I'm thinking of booking a connection in HKG from the CX198 (STA 21:00) to the BA 0026 (STD 23:30) on separate booking PNR's

Having never been through HKG before, would anyone know if this is a big risk?

Otherwise, I'll book it for the day before and spend the night in Hong Kong.

No, it wouldn't be a huge problem. Should be fine. Connections at HKG are quite efficient, and if there's a slight delay such that your connection becomes really tight, then usually there'll be someone at the arrivals gate to usher you through transit security . Worst thing is, though, you'll miss out on checking out HKG (or lounges if you're eligible)

Another idea would be to fly CX to London. They have three flights to London at or after that time so you can get a bigger margin for error (and enjoy their lounges if you have access), you will get miles and points (on eligible tickets) as they are oneworld partners, they are rather more likely to take care of you if things go wrong, and IMHO the hard and soft product on board are just so much better than BA (well, maybe except the food, which is much of a muchness)

Sorry, should have added in original post that our BA0026 is an inbound leg of an Avios/AMEX 2-4-1 redemption booking on BA.
Ideally, yes, we'd have returned to the UK on CX but unfortunately that option wasn't possible using the above.

I guess I'm trying to figure out whether people who regularly use HKG would risk a 2:30 non-protected transfer from a cash CX booking to a BA reward booking?

Like the others have helpfully said, should not be a problem.

BUT spending a day in HK is to be preferred!

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Nothing is ever guaranteed, of course, but that should be plenty of time, IMO, so long as you are checked through (which you should be). As noted above, HK is pretty efficient, and in addition CX will give you gate information on the IFE screens before you land, and will have ground staff waiting at the arrival gate to help people make their connections if there is a delay

I'm not a gambling girl, but this one is one i wouldn't mind making - on top the excellent advice already given, there is BA28 some 1/2 an hour later which MAY be useful (i don't really know how BA are with missing avios award bookings as i've been lucky so far)

Doubtful you'll miss out on the lounges either (if you have access) - 26 sometimes runs from gate 62 ish (in which case you're not far from the pier at gate 66), sometimes from the 16-20 range (in which case the Cabin at 23 is not far away either)

There have been some rather contentious posts on connection protection by oneworld on separate tickets on a couple of forums- the BA forum and on a thread started by me on the oneworld forum. The latter had a poster who was connecting from UL to CX and had written to both airlines, each of which confirmed that they would protect, even across different tickets. Imho, it's an unpublished oneworld policy- you might want to write to CX.

150minutes is more than enough! I've gone landslide to meet a friend over a meal on a similar transit- albeit it was on the same ticket. But you might want to call CX and cross reference the ticket with your BA ticket details, so that CX ground staff at HKIA 'know' that you are to transfer to BA. I'd bet that they'll protect you into a CX flight if you miss the connection. (CX because it would be their responsibility to rebook you- if AA's published policy on connection protection on separate tickets is anything to go by).

Great advice everyone, thanks for all the info.

Had it been down to me I probably would have booked it however SWMBO said ZQN-AKL-HKG-LHR-BHD all in one go was too much so we're having another day in HK on the way home!

Thanks

Slightly off topic -- why all the leading zeroes on BA26?