American, a tourist in china, working as a teacher for 2 mos,wants to apply for a z visa in hongkong

Hi, Edward, theoretically, foreigners with HK residence permit can apply for PRC entry permit in HK, but in real practice, someone without HK residence has also got the application approved. You can have a try.
You should ask your employer to get a work permit and an invitation letter from duly authorized unit for you. And then you take the two above-mentioned documents and other required documents containing the application with a passport-styled color photo glued to apply for the Z type.

Hello. thanks for the reply. Also, I previously was working in Thailand for the past 2 years and half which my working visa just expired last August and I was travelling for the holidays and during the time I got an offer from China.. i'm thinking if by chance I can still apply from thailand embassy of PRC given the fact that I have had lived there for 2 years and half. Many thanks

In my opinion, the chance to get the Z type from Thailand and HK are almost the same. I personally prefer to advising you to apply from HK because it's cheaper and more convenient there.

Thank you very much. Much appreciated