The is no 'Big Deal', as you put it WTFAW, when you go to work for a foreign company in a foreign land it is the NORM to relocate, has been for years. Sometimes, if you're lucky, just a few companies will let you base yourself away from the company home base, (and that may be where your home is), if it suits them. Some companies who have tried it are already winding up their overseas bases, (SIA for example), because for one reason or another it doesn't work.
It would be unrealistic to expect to come from Australia to HKG to work for a local short to medium haul carrier and commute to Australia on your days off. As I have said, when you go to work overseas it is the NORM to take your family with you, not expect to commute.
Perhaps your User ID says it all, Where The
Are We ?
(I'll Copy this to the main Fragrant Harbour Forum and maybe some of the expats who live in HKG would like to add their views).