School FAO officers are notorious for being lazy, arrogant pricks. Of course, HK isn't the only option for visa runs. FAO pricks know that too, but they don't care if you waste your money by visiting HK. Your pal should embark on his visa run during the school labor week holidays commencing early May, and he should obtain his Z visa from the Chinese visa office in Kirgistan. He can teach until then without a medical and on his tourist visa in Xinjiang at that public school without fear. As we all know, abuse of visa regulations is widespread throughout China, and that's just the sort of deceit from westerners in China that the authoritarian government of China deserves!