Yes, you can apply visa to Hong Kong at Chinese embassy there in France.

Thank you for the reply. I now have an L visa, multiple entry, with duration of each stay 180 days from entry. Can I confirm that the duration of stay is 180 days from my final entry into China and not the first entry? I have an 'enter before' date of May next year. So if I enter China in say January, then again in April, will the 180 days be counted from January or April?

It will be counted from April.

Thank you for your help. Are you able to answer questions on Hong Kong visas too? I am in HK under the 30-day visa-free period. However I would like to extend my stay for several months. When I emailed HK immigration before coming here, they said I would be able to do so quite easily. However when I visited immigration in HK they told me that the extension could only be for a couple of weeks in case of eg a medical emergency. I have sufficient funds to cover my visit. Any suggestions what to do?

Mr.Taljard, do you hold a multiple entry L visa now? If you want to stay in Hong Kong for several months, there is an option, you can go to Mainland China (e.g. Shenzhen)when the 30 days visa free period in Hong Kong expires, then return to Hong Kong from Shenzhen for a new 30 days stay duration in Hong Kong, however, the HK immigration officer will issue you less and less stay duration for you third or fourth entry to Hong Kong, the officer will know that you just want to stay in Hong Kong without a visa by travelling between HK and Shenzhen frequently.

Thank you. I took an overnight trip to Macau, and received a new 30 day visa-free period on my re-entry to Hong Kong.