1. I commuted to Japan from the US and from the Middle East. Commuting a long distance like that is expensive and will wear you down over time in ways you might not ever expect. Unless you have been regularly flying to the other side of the world you have no idea what you are in for.

2. $80K in HK gets you very little. You need to do some serious research as to what kind of QOL you will have on that kind of salary. Rent is equal to or worse than Tokyo and NYC.

3. Cruise pilot time is worthless, and your *upgrade* to FO will be something like 3-5 years.

4. Airlines in the US are hiring and if you are patient and go to a few job fairs something will eventually happen. A huge mob of FOs from my former job are at Spirit and JetBlue; 3 guys who went to Spirit upgraded within 3 years. Atlas or Kalitta would be a lot of fun if you are young and single. Stay in the US and its easier to be on the radar for another US carrier.

5. If you really want to try out this expat flying gig, all 3 majors in the ME are hiring; if you have an ATP and some EFIS jet time you'll get your chance over here.

I was at a bar in the mid levels a bit ago and overheard the most miserable groveling about airline piloting I have ever heard in my life, it was 2 CX Boeing jockeys, its not the dream job it once was.

The positives I can tell you about the idea are: Airport express trains have wifi, no snow or freezing rain in HK, tons of amazing beaches in SE Asia are not far from HK, if you have any money or time left over from the whole ordeal of HK life and ULR flying.

Good luck!