//and, in principle (but there have been errors) in order to get a Chinese visa on that foreign passport)

When I was checking on documentation to accompany my mother to Hangzhou, I noticed my aunt was travelling on her Australian passport. She has successfully obtained a PRC travel visa and has done some on some previous occassions also.

This is despite obvious giveaways in her Australian passport stating her place of birth as Hong Kong and her local surname. I'm not sure if she was asked to submit her HKID in the process cos there will be further giveaways in her HKID ***AZ status. AFAIK she has not renounced.

She has never applied for HRP tho.
But I stated in no uncertain terms that she will be treated as Chinese national during such trips.
I was even doubtful she would even get a PRC visa until she told me her visa history.