Wait to hear first
I have not heard that they are only hiring cadets. Recently, they expanded the cadet program to anyone who will come to Hong Kong. These are for applicants with NO previous airline experience. The applicants from local Hong Kong residents has slowed down. If you were hired as a DEFO and they haven't said anything to the contrary, they things have not changed. These rumor boards are filled with errors. You may have to wait it out until next year, but that is true of almost any airline. When the time comes, make an inform decision then. In the airline business, as you know, plans can change with the wind.