Both are fine. The only place where CX wins hands-down is in HKG lounges.

Be wary of "back in the day" nostalgia-based comparisons that always creep into these threads. Airlines aren't what they used to be; they are what they are now.

Go with price and schedule. You list yourself as E75K. If 2018 status is a concern and you'll be sticking with AC for that, then a round trip in J to HKG will get you a good part of the way there, so there's that too.