I am asking on behalf of my sister (perviously Hong Kong Chinese now American). She is travelling to Hong Kong with her American husband and two children in June. They are planning to fly to Beijing from Hong Kong for a week afterward. She is wondering if her husband might be required to apply for chinese visa when they are still in US (his home country), or if they can apply for a chinese visa when they are in Hong Kong.

Some american friends of mine told me that they do have to apply for the chinese visa before heading to Hong Kong, because they will later enter China by flight instead of by land, but the Chinese Embassy US does not specify mention this requirement. Wonder if anyone might know.