On my 10G Civic, I tackled the 'how to get into the hatch problem' as follows. Of course this may not apply to your CR-V.
This also assumes that you have already taken the rubber door seal and hatch plastic covers off.
1. Open the hatch and pull both ends of the rubber flexible tube ends from the body/tailgate.
2. From the outside of the car, insert a flexible 'mouse' through the bodywork into the headlining.
(I find one of the stainless steel bits from an old windscreen wiper blade with a small loop bent into the end ideal)
3. Fish around under the headlining and tape the cable securely to the 'mouse' and pull it through.
4. Use some washing up liquid as a lubricant and feed the 'mouse' through the flexible tube.
5. Carefully pull the cable through the tube using plenty of lube.
6. Push the 'mouse into the hatch lid and carefully pull through the cable.
7. Refit the ends of the flexible tube back into the bodywork.hatch lid.