Deciding which airline to join was a bit like picking mutual funds, very few of them were consistent good performers long term, and last years best often became this years worst. Those who joined in the 1980s on the A scale had the best years of Cathay, they are nearly all retired now and living very nicely back in their home countries or some exotic location they took a fancy to during their travels.
A sea change is taking place and the long term outlook isn't good. China doesn't really need Hong Kong to continue in its present form, the RMB is increasingly becoming a world currency and this can be managed from Beijing, Chinese transport links and ports have greatly improved and little has to transit through Hong Kong. The master plan of world domination through the belt and road initiative is well in place, taking over the South China Sea and recolonising Africa is moving along nicely. Ultimately Hong Kong will simply become just another large Chinese city, which will be out of favour with the government due to recent events.
President Xi Jinping has already vowed to "smash separatists to pieces", if the protesters overplay their hand they could push the central government into a crack down and mass internment.
https://thediplomat.com/2016/07/tibe...state-complex/