Hong Kong introduced Data Link in about 2000 to Cathy,Dragonair and Air HongKong.It worked well and the clearance was readback on CDC (GMP), when the a/c were ready.It was only after that that the bad news about flow restrictions was given.There were no Europe style slot times.CDC worked out the delays.It cut down r/t a lot,and was just a simple computer terminal.No EFPS either.I would have thought LL might have had it sooner.
PS the training was simple,only took 30 mins.