I think the problem CX is having is the "pay everyone the same" thing they do now (I don't know if the Govt bought it in or if CX did it themselves). The expats used to get paid a whole lot more than the locals and in an attempt to get this fixed, they got every new joiners pay dramatically decreased to the local rate instead of the locals getting an increase to the expat rate.
So now I think its the immigration dept not letting CX hire fresh or very low time guys because they don't believe they posses any more skills than a fresh CX locally sourced cadet.
If DEFO recruitment did open up again the package on offer would be substantially below anything else in the region. The likes of Skymark or Korean or the dozen other Asian airlines offering expats jobs who have 500 hours on type look much more attractive (besides maybe HKA). The salary might not be that much different but the cost of living in HK seems to be spiraling out of control right now making the take home part much smaller.
Anyone else have an opinion?
I'm keen on your take China.