You can be held on the freighter fleet. It seems to be at the company's discretion. In many past cases this was up to one year. However you do get the by pass pay provided an officer junior to you has been given a course on the PAX fleet. The bypass pay might make you the highest paid in the cockpit ! As someone metioned the 42 months is the minimum time possible. The transfer is firstly one to the passanger fleet regardless of basing. Then once you have met the requirements of that transfer you then may apply for a basing or come to Hong Kong. Therefore it makes no difference what your intentions are going to be once you move over. The transfer is usually given on the date of the commencement of the first FO course after you have served your time (which I believe is 42 months from your course estart date) provided that you have the seniority for that FO course. So patience my friend. Lets not make this SO or DEFO bashing as we are actually all on the same team.