broadband is absolutely right....
Cathay used to offer top of the line contracts to its pilots, and as such had no trouble recruiting the very best pilots from around the world. Every single pliot recruited was hired either directly from another main line carrier, or they were the very best pilots from the military. Every pilot on the planet was trying to get in.
A cost cutting culture took hold in the nineties, that continues to run on inertia today.....with a central strategy to offer new pilots less and less benefits with the aim being to save more and more money. Obviously, this had a direct bearing on the quality of new hires. Reaching its nadir today where high quality, experienced pilots don't even bother to apply. Instead, they seem content to hire candidates with zero experience, offer to train them, as long as the new hires agree to local terms (read no housing allowance).
As broadband stated, there is zero chance of getting a base....the basing system is in a mess, and as such, they've been completely frozen....and you can't live in Hong Kong with what is being offered today. You simply can't.
Those of us living in Hong Kong do so on our old contracts. It would not be possible to live here and raise a family on what is being offered in the new contracts. Impossible.
Cathay is a great Airline to fly for, but the flying will wear thin very quickly if you can't support your family, or save for a decent retirement....I suggest you wait until a better (read...more realistic) package is offered.