Slapfaan - I really hope you are right about the cadet scheme thing - however what I have seen at all the Chinese airlines as well as Malaysian etc supports what I just said. And by the way - check out where Qantas plans to get their future pilots from - they are building a huge flight school.
Either way - my first point still stands. As soon as Cathay gives a decent pay rise due to a shortage I will consider myself truly shot down and retract my statement.