(Put it up front)
I tried, and doable, with no MAAS.

(Real Case)
Never do it if you DO NOT have a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents. All passports require fingerprint capture, so you cannot run to immigration.
You must pass an e-gate, or else immigration wastes you more time. Never do ANY luggage or even backpack; customs will have a really long queue.
Your flight cannot be delayed. CAN is strict on check-in time; they'll close at 09:30 am. You have to obtain paper BP @ CAN. (Note that CX982 is famous for delay and waiting transit passengers)
NEVER trust the HKG check-in desk(even F); if you don't meet MCT, they usually won't issue BP.
You have to familiarize CAN T2's route, starting from deplane to immigration, to customs, to exits and to check in desk.
You have to ask the ground to escort you for departure immigration or you might be stuck in the middle.