With the more stringent visa laws the Chinese are kicking out all sorts of foreigners- the competent and the incompetent.

Therein lies the rub. I would not even consider coming back to China unless I had a new passport and every police clearance possible from the UK. Even then I suspect from the end of 2014 school term that will not be enough, they will simply require FTs to go home annually. I have met a few older homeless people from America and Canada in HK....those with chinese wives in China should not get complacent either, a 1 year tourist visa could soon be reduced at a whim.....
good luck!