Originally Posted by
stargold
Holders of certain FFP elite tiers can register for the e-Channel service which essentially reduces immigration queueing to zero. Registration is available at two offices located just after clearing arrival passport control (and before proceeding through the glass doors for the baggage claim).
Yes, this is the key to it. HK residents don't have a queue for immigration or emigration, nor do regular visitors and various other luminaries who get access to the e-channels on arrival and departure. They hand out access fairly freely. I'm usually on the train out of HK within 30 minutes of doors open, even from the far end of the airport, and I only arrive at HK airport an hour before departure.
Security inbound and transit has no priority lanes except for very senior VIPs (a handful a week). Even Sir Donald Tsang has to use the same security the rest of us use. There is a bit of a knack to knowing whether to go East or West Security (sounds familiar?!) and the transit security wait can be reduced by avoiding the ones near immigration. However HK security is extremely swift and efficient, even with a long queue, in my experience.