While the issue over pilot work visas may be seen as xenophobic, it’s certainly not a conspiracy. The immigration department’s policy is on record for all to see. For the first time in living memory there is an excess of qualified, suitable pilots in Hong Kong and the department would seem to be following that policy. We can debate endlessly over whether they enjoy such action, but it makes little material difference.
So what are the options for the company, union and affected crew. Opening up bases is a workaround but would create a number of knock on issues.
Many of the expat crew don’t have the right to live and work in the current base areas. HKE and HKA currently don’t even have bases.
Virtually all the bases are on some version of a stand down. As such there are restrictions on those base companies recruiting ever more pilots to simply be immediately stood down.
Does employing ex CX or KA crew into Hong Kong also breach the base companies stand down provisions? If the company’s Hong Kong based crew is insufficient for the task, should stood down crew be utilized prior to employing new crew? Particularly as the company seem to have implemented a freeze on based crew relocating to Hong Kong. Can see a number of legal actions here in first world jurisdictions. Not sure that would strengthen the viability of the bases though.
As for crew applying for
PR status, the requirements of the GEM no longer apply however there are different requirements. Obviously the 7 years of continuously residing in Hong Kong, but also the requirement to prove you’ve made Hong Kong your permanent home. It will be interesting to see if the immigration director continues to just rubber stamp that last requirement in regards to obvious commuters, many of whom don’t have so much as a residential lease. Then we’ll see if it’s just bureaucracy doing it’s job, or there’s been a change to the mindset. That would certainly fan the flames of the xenophobic debate.
Would seem management is once again in a hole of its own making that could have been avoided with dialogue, negotiation and compromise, yet I fully expect to see them continue to dig rather than ask for a helping hand out of the mess. I hope I’m wrong.