The price hasn't really gone up from £30. It has been that many years ago. The admin fee is not charged by the embassy but but the handling agents. I use to pay another company to apply for my visa as they did nto take postal applications.

As for require 2 visas. It seems fair. As you are exiting the country. If you apply for a single visa to the UK you cannot go to the falkland islands and expect to be able to reenter the UK on the same visa.

If Hong Kong Citizens need to apply for a visa to enter China I don't see why you think you can use a single entry visa.

A UK tourist visa costs £90 for a chinese Citizen.