Don,
It's not true that CX is !!!!e compared to QF in terms of career earnings and lifestyle.
Oz based CX F/Os take home around the same as a mainline QF F/O (excluding the -400 of course
)
They get a hell of a lot more days off then 767 drivers, don't have to pay into their own super (As in division 3 Qantas. Instead, they get 15.5% company contributions), don't pay tax on their allowances, get private health insurance through MBF paid by the company (worth around $2500/yr net to anyone with a family), get the medicare levy reimbursed and still get commands after 8 years. They don't get to salary package cars or computers though
.
They're paid in Oz dollars, so the relative weakness of the HK dollar is irrelevant.
VS.