It wasn't the press or public CX had to please, it was the Hong Kong CAD, if CX had taken lesser action it would have been seen by the CAD as giving them the finger after their intervention.
I doubt there will be any lawyers involved either. I have been told by an employee that in CX, if you are sacked, they are only obliged to pay you that part of the provident fund that you paid in but if you agree to go quietly then you get the lot.