Money talks. Property in HKG has gone up but even so, the KA gig is still a good deal financially and very difficult to top.
Crap rostering. Crap training – especially when it comes to the sink or swim approach of providing no assistance to command trainees. Low tech flight operations that make some regional carriers look good. Rudderless ship syndrome – where is the management. These are some issues that tempt people to leave and result in rock bottom morale but as long as ransom is being paid, very few will leave.
Now as for customers abandoning KA, that’s a different story.