"no housing is the norm"
Stallone,
You stated: "no housing allowance in HKG is the norm now, no surprises from that", but this is not correct.
Cathay is trying to paint your picture, but it ONLY applies to new joiners; this is the new "C-Scale", guys, and well done for not signing up to it. You will get nothing until your Command (10 years or so at the very least) and then only HK$24,000 or so.
Housing remains unchanged in Hong Kong for all current crew and without it life in Hong Kong would be unviable; most would leave.