The Hong Kong Journalists Association is a Hong Kong association that represents journalists in Hong Kong. Established in 1968, the association acts as a trade union for journalists by seeking to improve working conditions for them and further works to aid journalists by striving to remove barriers journalists face when gathering news. HKJA also serves as a channel for individuals to file complaints when unethical reporting in local media is observed.
The association has been chaired by Selina Cheng since June 2024.
Contents
Background
Every year, HKJA produces a report on the press freedom status in Hong Kong. It is widely circulated to foreign consulates and non-governmental organisations and is often quoted in foreign media reports about Hong Kong. The 2006 report describes the challenges facing the media in Hong Kong, including the government's attempts to influence the editorial direction of the public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong .
Prior to 2006, the report was annually produced in partnership with ARTICLE 19, a London-based rights group.
HKJA is an affiliated member of the International Federation of Journalists, the world's largest journalists' organisation.
HKJA is also a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors censorship worldwide and defends journalists, writers, Internet users and others who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
In August 2026, HKJA's legitimacy as a union was attacked by Chris Tang and pro-Beijing media outlets Wen Wei Po, Bastille Post, Orange News, and Dot Dot News.
Funding
To maintain its neutrality, HKJA is funded by membership fees and other fund-raising activities, such as annual dinners, seminars (for non-members), training courses etc.
Membership classifications
One may choose to join HKJA as a Full Member, Associate Member, Public Relations Member or Student Member.
List of chairman
The association has been chaired by Selina Cheng since June 2024.
Selina Cheng, 2024–
Ronson Chan, 2021–24
Chris Yeung (楊健興), 2017–21
岑倚蘭, 2013–17
麥燕庭, 2009–13
Tam Chi-keung (譚志強), 2008–09
Fan Ho-tsai (范皓齊), 2007–08
Lo King-wah, –2007
Activities
The Association organises various activities to inform their members of the latest news/developments in the field. These include seminars, workshops, press awards and overseas tours. The Association also organises football matches, i.e. JA Cup, since 1985.
JA Cup
The HKJA Cup was inaugurated in 1984. The champions of the JA Cup are:
Press freedom issues in Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)
Questions over Hong Kong's press freedom were raised when the government announced plans to set up a committee to review public broadcasting in January 2005. The greatest concern that arose from the establishment of the committee seemed to be the controversy over the editorial independence/freedom of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). The broadcaster is known for airing views and opinions that challenge the government's policies. Consequently, there were fears over whether RTHK's editorial independence would remain. The Hong Kong Journalists Association responded to the issue by saying that RTHK should maintain its freedom and remain independent of the government (for more on HKJA's response, see the HKJA Annual Report (2006)).
Article 23
Introduced as a law to protect national security, Article 23 of the Basic Law created much concern and debate over Hong Kong's right to freedom of speech. On the one hand, the government wanted to pass the bill to help the country and protect it from any threats, while on the other, individuals wanted to be able to express themselves freely. In a response to the issue, HKJA opposed the bill as it felt that Article 23 posed a threat to freedom of expression and was also unnecessary. Due to the dissatisfaction of the people, on 1 July 2003 approximately 500,000 people protested against Article 23. On 5 September later that year, the government announced that it had decided to withdraw the bill.
Hong Kong press ratings
On 26 October 2006, Ming Pao reported the findings of a survey in which Hong Kong people were asked to rate the local press.
It showed that the press received a relatively steady approval rating from the general public.
However, another survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong, showed that public support for the press in Hong Kong has been decreasing and has reached its lowest point in three years.
According to the World Press Freedom Index compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders, Hong Kong’s ranking plunged from 18th place to 140th over some 20 years.