South African visiting China and Tibet

I am a South African and will be travelling from 24 March (USA and Europe and India) then on 1 September plan was to go to China.
I was issued a visa but did not realize they are issued from application date for three months. So expires 17 May.

I need to apply either in Europe or India while travelling. Can I do this. The consulate here has told me I can do it in Hong Kong - but Hong Kong was not really in my travel plans. But if this is the only place I can do it on my South African passport - then I guess it will mean that I am now going to Hong Kong too.