Valhalla,
You are SO correct. This is another typical CX example of commercial pressure suppressing important safety information. The management are just seeking to avoid bad press. Sadly, most will never get to hear the real story.
Bottom line, earlier is better when dealing with HK ATC, bad weather, and flight plan fuel. I was there that night. We took flight plan fuel off an ULH flight because the weather was forecast to be CAVOK for our arrival window. In Taiwanese airspace, it was obvious that there was WX and ATC trouble entering HKG. We avoided becoming another mayday by doing a 135 left back to RCKH before Elato and landed there with plenty of fuel for Taipei should something happen. Overly conservative? Maybe, but I was glad to be me and not one of those sucking the seat cushion up their rear due no fuel cushion.