I can see that is you joined CX in the early '80's you were looking forward to a nice expat life with a full service "proper" airline for life. Many would have said that was being optimistic but you never know.
After the Brits agreed to hand back HK it must have been obvious that things were going to change big-time - not all at once but the direction of travel would be towards a locally hired workforce on very different T&C
There have also been the rise of China as an economic power and the vast changes in the airline business. CX is impacted by all of them
It must have been clear for the last 25 years that your T&C's would be changing constantly and not for the better. I just wonder why all the moaners have stayed - it can't be as bad as they say it is..................