Shep,
I agree to an extent, he was a resident. That is the major change here, still employed by a foreign company, and subject to a foreign laws.
Ancper,
USAB/Veta is incorporated in hkg. He was employed and terminated in hkg. News to me if ground staff at outports are employed in hkg.
IRS is a different issue, US taxpayers have to pay tax on worldwide income, nothing new there. It is not specific to CX, look the Swiss and Indian banks handing over information on US tax payers.