@Mad Dog
That "they" are desperate to rid themselves of ALL expat perks is no secret and no one needs to be an insider to know this.
Here's the problem: there are MANY of us who have made (by any measure) large sums of money over the past decades, either in astute investing (rare) or property (common).
If there was a massive degradation of CoS (Conditions of Service) MANY would simply leave. It wouldn't be worth it - the pollution, cramped living, expensive education, CoL, draconian work rules, the TSA (my personal favorite), poor rosters, unstable rosters et al.
The reason why CX hasn't simply scrubbed expat allowances is that they are painfully aware of the exodus it would precipitate, on all levels - line drivers, C&T staff, TCs, STCs, managers, everyone. It would, in a word, DECIMATE the airline.
A slow introduction of "local" T&Cs is what has begun, albeit unsuccessfully. Undersubscribed with the "wrong stuff", they have turned to recruiting from areas previously ignored by CX - only to come up dry - again! The response from India, Pakistan and Malaysia was underwhelming.
The few reasonably qualified individuals CX trolled into the icadet scheme are EXPECTED to leave when they can attract interest from other airlines - Emirates, E T I H A D and others, even LCCs. It's already begun amongst some local staff, leaving for HKA and Air Asia, to name two.
Attrition off the icadet scheme is expected to be in the region of 60-70% at the F/O 1000 hour mark.
You want inside information? You just got it.