When HKIA first opened CX had six preferred gates: 1-4, 21, 23. That's well documented in almost every pamphlet/timetable issued around 1998-99.

But in practice, CX very rarely get 21 and 23 (CI often snitch them). They also very rarely park at gates 15-19 for departures. I had a CX250 arrive into 16 once but that was towed out on to a remote stand afterwards. 18 is definitely not a CX preferred gate. In four years of tracking gate information for the Auckland flights (don't ask :p) there has only ever been one flight that's left from that area, and that was late last year, when it drew 19.

Because CX253 departs at the same time as the NA flights, it rarely draws the closer gates. Same story for the CX117. If your regional flight is not leaving in that NA-departures window then the odds of it drawing a preferred gate are substantially higher.

But while we're on the subject of gate assignments, does anyone know why the VS200 from LHR arrives into gate 21, but is then tugged straight over to gate 41 to do the VS201 back?

VS200 arrives at 21 and is towed to outer bay (sometimes for aircraft wash) before being towed back to 41 at around 2100

right on tfung. this is why i always choose the night arrival from NRT, because it operates 744 and parks usually around 1-4

The CX829 incoming from YYZ gets a very far gate, mostly when I'm on, the gates 1-4 are taken, and we get somewhere around gate 40 or 60 sometimes. The departure to YYZ on CX828 always gets gate 1 in my experience.

I've seen the BKK-BOM-DXB flight go from 3 or 4 a couple of times, and have also taken MNL and ICN flights from the same gates. But all of those flights have been out of the big long haul waves. Apart from a remote stand once, all my LHR flights have gone from 1-4.

Gate 18
 

As mentioned before in this forum, once
my CX509 from NRT to HKG docked Gate 18.

HK Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and his group walked opposite direction to immigration (i.e. north, airport hotel).

By the way, afternoon flights to JPN mostly depart from Gate 61-70.
Japanese passenger to NRT, KIX, NGO speak different dialects in waiting area.
Probably, I can tell the destination by their dialects.
Recoginizing KIX people is easy.
Distingushing between NRT and NGO is harder.

I wouldn't be surprised if CX has a mini hub near G6x, afterall that's where the Pier is!~

The Virgin lounge is located near gate 41. This is why I presume they tow the plane to that part of the airport. I think they also offer buggy service for Upper Class Passengers to the lounge.