I guess my question was really in regards to the luggage. In that it would be less work for me if I can drop the bags at the connecting belt instead of taking it with me to T1.

I have a U.S. passport (I'm a U.S. citizen not living in the U.S) so I can use the U.S. citizen line and in the past I have arrived at various times internationally into SFO and has never taken me more than 45 minutes to get from plane and out of customs. I've done it as fast as 15 minutes.

Coming back I'll have a 4-hr layover. Arriving at 9:35 am and then taking the departure back to HKG at 1:35 pm.