Interested on how this could be done, as when I was in Zhejiang, I was told by the consulate in Shanghai, it was not possible to get a passport from them directly and that for east asia HK was the place to apply. I was able to post a bankers draft and the form and IIRC the full passport, and receive back a new one from HK promptly, so I did not have to go in person.

Regards on getting new passports, cheers and wines,
SMGS