Eidolon,
Get your head around that this has nothing to do with who Cathay might want to retain now or employ in the future. This is purely a Hong Kong Immigration Department issue and the director will make decisions based upon his interpretation of the GEP and not based upon Cathay’s current or future recruitment policy. Keep in mind the criteria for the renewal of a work visa is identical to the criteria for an initial issue.
Let’s also not forget that the aggrieved
PR pilots aren’t just former KA crew. There are also both former and current CX crew who have filed grievances with the Immigration Department. Numerous based crew who hold
PR status have requested to be based back in Hong Kong but their request has been denied due to no positions being available. CX management now find themselves in the untenable position of writing letters to its own
PR pilots claiming they have no work for them yet are writing letters to the Immigration Department arguing the case for temporary work visas.
The Director of Immigration will decide which argument is more valid.