Just received the following email from the British Consul General in Guanzhou.
I think it is self explanatory.
Willy
Greetings from the British Consulate-General Guangzhou.
From 3 May 2010 the British Embassy in Beijing will no longer issue passports. British nationals will need to send passport applications to our passport processing centre in Hong Kong. Please visit
http://ukinchina.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/ and also see the information below.
Grateful if you could also recommend your British colleagues/friends to register with us on
https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal if they haven't done so, so that we can get in touch with British national in case of crisis and keep everyone informed of important changes in the future.
Kind regards,
Consular Section
British Consulate-General Guangzhou
Applying for a British Passport in China
British passports for those applying in China are now issued in Hong Kong. Please visit
http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/apply-from-ne-asia/china for guidance on how to apply.
Passport applications take 10 working days to process from the receipt of a correctly completed and paid for application, plus 4 days courier time. There is no fast-track service available. Applications are dealt with strictly in the order that they are received and are not prioritised, except for in the most compelling compassionate circumstances. It is therefore essential that you apply for your passport well in advance of your planned travel date.
Applications for full passports received by the British Embassy in Beijing cannot be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
Lost and stolen passport applications
If your previous passport has been lost or stolen in China you will need to report the loss in person to the police and at the British Embassy in Beijing before you apply to Hong Kong. Please contact the British Embassy in Beijing for further advice.
Applying for a British Passport in the UK
You may also apply to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in person whilst visiting the UK. In order to do this, you need to make an appointment with IPS in the UK and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport may be posted. Applicants will have to be available at this address to sign for the receipt of the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or e-mail if you live abroad. You will find all the forms you need and instructions on the IPS website.
