Renew China Passport during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

My wife has a China Passport which is due to expire in 6 months time. We live in London and have information that she may not be able to approach the China Embassy to submit her application. As she will soon submit her extension of stay in the UK, it would be much better to have her new passport to be stamped by the Home Office rather than on the old one.
Please kindly advise!
With regard and Happy New Year!