B747-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 3500
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
Flight to VHHH proceeded according to plan and procedure until encountering a non standard approach clearance from VHHK Radar.  The flight was initially told to expect the Sierra 1G arrival and was subsequently changed to the Sierra 6D arrival.  The non pilot flying made adjustments to the FMC.  Both pilots conferred with the appropriate charts confirming the routing.  The pilot flying noticed a route discontinuity and closed it advising the non pilot flying.  The briefing anticipated radar vectors to final; which occurs 99.999% of the time at VHHH.  The Final Controller cleared flight for the approach to 25R by the 'full arrival'. The non pilot flying questioned the Controller regarding the clearance.  The Controller repeated the same non standard terminology.  The pilot flying stated that he wanted the flight to navigate to final via LNAV.  Immediately following the TD fix the Controller canceled approach clearance and vectored the flight to final claiming non standard routing.  Another flight following us also questioned the non standard approach clearance phraseology.  Evidently; the Controller wanted us to fly the TD transition; but never stated this.  The flight concluded safely.
B747 Captain reports confusion transitioning from the SIERA 1G arrival to the ILS Runway 25R. The crew is cleared by ATC for the ILS Runway 25R via the full arrival; which the crew does not comprehend. Ultimately the Controller issues radar vectors to the 25R ILS.