At Last
No probs TryHarder, I understand your lack of keenness on the title wannabees, but it imply means that you are looking for a job here, regardless of hours.
You hit the nail on the head that these look like large sums of money to potential new joiners - that's the illusion the managers are trying to create. The truth is that with HK cost of living, it's not much. Remember, that big wad of cash is the same as 27 months of housing allowance. How long was it that you have to repay them until it is really 100% yours??
And the HKPA is a set figure, not market indexed like the full housing package. Inflation is really starting to kick in, and anyone who's been here a while knows how quickly, and how high, the property market can zoom to unbelievable levels.
Disregard the comment about being below the requirements of the DESO package, there are a lot of guys currently here with similar background who joined as DESOs. The irony is that with your background and your ability to do some research and make a valued judgment based one the information available, you'd probably be an excellent member of the team. Just don't devalue yourself by having to go backwards financially to do it.