Indeed PW.
The sheer incompetence of Cathay management, and utter arrogance, is something for the aviation history books. They are complete criminal buffoons and we all hope they rot in hell. They get away with it here, and that's why London ships them over for a bit of a leg stretch.
Best to just knock it on the head and avoid the place.
There will be plenty of clowns and misfits who pitch up thinking the numbers look good, live with a family of 4 in a miserable shoe box, and good luck to them.
But there is a reason CX has avoided foolish applicants in the past, and yes, fools cause accidents, but the management don't care as they're on a revolving door policy, and the airline has got insurance (for now).
My prediction - CX is aviation history in 2 or so years.