First off. If cx ruled out international applicants, there wouldnt be a website that entices you to apply with THREE ENTRIES TO CHOOSE FROM THE DIRECT, OFFSET AND PARALLEL go figure!..
Moreover, if there would be a cut in hiring international applicants arent the least of their choices! Look at the roster of their crewing in the flight deck and when you board the cx bus going to headland what nationalities so you see?..
Bottomline, cx is just making the most out of this recruitment weeding out the shabby ones to the sharp ones... And it helps to be type rated and have at least 250 hours of flying time. So, make the most out of the holding period for those who got rejected and initially applying you will never know when will your time come.. GET sharp if CX is all u needed! Who knows? When u get called u will just cream the interview.. And when asked what is the difference between MDA and DA elaborate it your interview might just end there and your on your way to tung chung looking for an apartment.