HKD$72K = c. USD$9.5K = $115K p.a. At 17% tax rate, this will still be attractive to many, many pilots. Cost of living in HK is multi tiered. It’s not impossible to live on that salary.
OK, so it won’t get you a 3500 sq ft pad in Shouson Hill, nor the requisite Ferrari or 911 GT3 which were all formerly the de rigueur accoutrements of every self respecting A scaler (and more than a few upwardly mobile B’s).
But it’s still a living wage. And in an industry which is decimated everywhere that’s the very best anyone can hope for right now. Pointless getting wrapped around the axle over it.