短時間由英國返回香港

Yes... If he need to be back by Sunday, which means he will have to fly by Saturday night at the latest... And now is Friday night in UK...
If he got internet access, book on Oasis Hong Kong at once as they are doing promotion ticket for all flights in November, so he can still get a HKD1000 ticket which will be HKD2009 include tax for a 4, November flight leaving at 1300 at London Gatwick which get him to Hong Kong by 0930 on 5, November (Sunday)...
Otherwise, you can tell him to go to the airport tomorrow morning by around 1000 when check-in begin for Cathay Pacific earliest flight, he can then try to obtain a ticket there if there are seats available as there are 4 flights a day by Cathay Pacific, so I would suggest your friend to check with Cathay Pacific first...
If there is no hope with Cathay Pacific, go to Virign Atlantic next as their ticket office at the airport is very near Cathay Pacific office as both of theirs are at Terminal 3... If no hope with either Virgin Atlantic or Cathay Pacific, go for British Airways at Terminal 1 which fly 3 Daily to Hong Kong...
So I would suggest your friend first to check with Oasis Hong Kong which should still have seats... If not then go to Heathrow tomorrow morning to check with those ticket office of British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic... But of course I would strongly suggest him to book a Oasis Hong Kong at once as you wont be able to get any cheap ticket like that or little more expensive at airlines ticket office at the airport... So Oasis Hong Kong now is the best option of all I would say...

2006-11-04 03:07:53 補充：
Another option that I have not tried myself is that to call British Airways 0870 850 9 850 which open between 0600-2000 everyday or Virgin Atlantic 08705 747 747 and check if you can book via the phone...

HK n LHR get 8 hrs time diff.,so you need to count what time u call ur fd~ like below:

If you call your fd on 3/11--12am midnight (HK time) = 2/11-- 4pm (LHR time)
ur fd go airport in 2 hours~~ 3/11--2am (HK time) = 2/11-- 6pm(LHR time)
then flight fm LHR to HKG need 13 hours~
when ur fd arrive HK~~ 3/11 -- 3pm (HK time) = 3/11 -- 7am (LHR time)

If you call your fd on 3/11--12pm noon (HK time) = 3/11-- 4am (LHR time)
ur fd go airport in 2 hours~~ 3/11--2pm (HK time) = 3/11-- 6am(LHR time)
then flight fm LHR to HKG need 13 hours~
when ur fd arrive HK~~ 4/11 -- 1am (HK time) = 3/11 -- 7pm (LHR time)

the early you call~ then ur fd can back on 3/11~

去機場候補機票啦！！！

５小時坐飛樊

The travelling from England to hong kong is about 13 hours,so i think he can come back at night .n im sure he can come back b4 sunday,no problem at all.

有機位就可以,最快聽日可以到,無機位就乜都唔駛講啦!

可以,只係坐直航機機票會貴啲.
最遲明天都到 lu

如果個日airport有ticket放出嚟, 係有可能嘅.

he can arrive on 4th, I think because there are some tickets in airport which you can buy immediaty. The of travelling from England th HK is less than a day so he can arrive on about 3/11 night or 4th moring

2006-11-04 23:27:03 補充：
The time of travelling from England to HK is less than a day so he can arrive on about 3/11 night or 4th moring