You're still not getting it. By closing bases, CX will force early retirements and resignations. We appear to be overcrewed on the pax fleet at the moment. Win for them. Now if they chucked in forced moves back to HKG in combo with putting them on COS18, almost everyone would refuse to return to the cesspit. Again, cutting the fat. This is where savings will be made by closing the bases. Yes, they're ruthless. Nasty business.
By returning to HKG most Based guys would see their salary increase, and yes that is even on POS18! If that's your only option to feed your family, you would do it. I'm sure almost all would make the move. So no fat cutting happening, just an increase in Company costs that could easily easily be avoided in the first place by just leaving guys on Bases.
Also, not sure how smart forcing guys back to HKG and costing more to the Company would look to the Government Observers soon to be sitting on the Board of Directors.