On the I-9 form - do you need to have the right to work in the USA?
apparently I am misinformed, and you know it all.
COS 08 was a pay cut, and also should have been temporary (if you believe NR). Any COS 99 officers will also have to accept retirement past 55, and lose BPP - not to mention the paycut you mentioned. The benefit of going to CX was to take a command at a younger age, and be able to retire before 55..... now that BPP is being taken away, the goal posts have moved again.
Seniority matters for whom can hold command in the junior base (HKG), but as for basings CX obviously has to follow the law of the land.... and can impose any policy they wish in order to remain compliant to the laws of any sovereign country.
All USAB officers on COS '99 should just take a HKG base, with housing, CEA, and 13th month, and keep their BPP.