Like many HK emigrants holding European or North American passports (and maybe also BNO), I've never seen the need to get a HKSAR passport. However, the recent CX LHR-HKG diversion to DME got me thinking.

Not too long ago, Sir BowTie went to see the prez (or was it the prem) in Moscow and came back with a deal: HKers and Russians can now visit each other's homeland for 14 days without visa, while Mainland Chinese, North Americans and Schengen/EU Europeans can't visit Russia without one.

In CX's case, everyone with a HKSAR passport was let go to a hotel, while the rest of them went to sleep in a lounge.

Given how many hours are spent overflying Russia nowadays for Asia-Europe and Asia-North America flights, is this a reason to have a HKSAR passport? I know airliners are required to have enough coats to fly polar, but diversion comfort is another matter.

Or does it matter only if you fly CX, since on other carriers, there'll barely be any HKSAR passport holders so they won't let anyone go anyway?

I know chances are remote, but diversions are more probable than Americans vs. hijacking a la 1980s (and thinking to get a second passport just in case).