cpdude,
You miss the point.
HKG based crew are unhappy with the based crew system (and perhaps the individuals themselves) because for every ISM promoted on the bases, there is one less slot available in HKG. There is still only a finite number of flights to be crewed. For them, the right of abode overseas is beside the point.
I'm sure you are aware that our most senior SPs have been in the company for in excess of 22 years now, and there is still no immediate light on the horizon for them because of all these based crew being promoted outside of the established seniority system.
Again (and you are correct) it is another case of the company riding roughshod over the established contracts of it's most senior and loyal employees.
The day will come... but until then, all we can do is...
Lead, command and set the example.