My son is a Scot working in Italy for past year offered new 2 year contract in China

So you mean he will need to renew his passport first? if yes, he can only apply Chinese work visa after he get a new passport. I don't know where he is living now, he might need to apply through CVASC if in consular district of Rome and Milan. He can submit application in person to the center or apply by post instead.

Get a new passport, from what u say, in Scotland, seeking fast processing.

The Chinese visa might take longer.....if he has all the paperwork together, it can be done in 3 or 4 days, but the probability is the employer will not have done all of it correctly!!!!

Anyway, he should follow normal good business procedure and tell his Chinese employer that passport and visa matters might delay him.

Of course he should not buy a plane ticket until he is sure he has his visa. There's another ticket issue, but one thing at the time....contact me on apault 'at' gmail.com if you have further qu's

Paul