last time I was there (right after 9/11) there were no in town check-in available to the US. Is this still true?

It has been restored. I checked in during July for HKG-LAX at the Kowloon station.

Were you able to check-in baggage in-town? My understanding (and according to the CX website) is that you can collect your boarding pass in-town, but if you have baggage to check then you have to take it and drop it off at the airport. This being so it seems easier to check in online if you have a bag to check.

I had only carry-on so it is possible that baggage check-in was restricted, but the agent did not mention it and I don't recall a sign. I recall the experience in some detail as the person in front of me was checking in with 16giant suitcases and about 10 family members, but he was the only one traveling (Diamond) and CX did not charge for excess baggage (I bet he had over 500 kg of bags). I prefer to checkin at the airport in any case, the staff there are very friendly and more efficient.

I just got back from Hong Kong and you can certainly check in but with a big caveat. Post 9-11, you cannot check in up to 24 hours before your flight. You can only check in the day of your flight so if you have an early morning flight, it's somewhat useless.

u cannot check bags at AEL to US now.

however, if u are connect to US via a 3rd country, u can. (eg hkg-nrt-jfk)

USA has become a pain in the a__ for travelling, for both international and domestic flights. i really hate the incapable Mr. W!