No need to quote the figures as someone else has...bottom line is that an Aussie joining in Dec07 will earn over $100K more than one joining in Jan08 over the first few years.
For an SO joining in HKG your pay is the same(3% increase in Jan). Some things for a potential SO joiner to consider.
RA65 will add 3-5 years to command time....and obviously also delay the need to have you upgraded to FO. 3man crewing, which we will have Jan09, will give CX a sudden surplus of FOs - maybe 200-300. So again, even less need to upgrade SOs.
Bypass pay is paid to SOs who are 'assessed' if there are DEFOs junior to them and/or pilots extended past RA55. The latter reason only applies to pilots who join prior to 1/1/08.
Five years from now we are likely to have up to 300 'extended' captains. That means up to 300 HKG based FOs, on CoS99, will get bypass pay. The only SOs who will get it are those assessed...which apparently happens just a few months before upgrade.
So if you aren't in CX now don't worry about bypass pay as it won't affect you! If you are based a year from now, don't worry about bypass pay as it won't affect you....CX likes to keep things simple!