Whilst it says you need to be present in HK when you make your application I presume there is nothing stopping anyone from mailing everything to a relative in HK and then the relative sending the documents to immigration or even when making the application online via a VPN with an HK ip address. You will obviously need to be physically in HK to get your photo taken for the ID card, but that is really about it.
Even for the "interview" I think you can send a representative (sorry might be wrong on this, as I don't have my letter anymore), but they will ask for your passport, so in practical terms you will have to be in HK.
But then again, public forums do provide shockingly poor advice on immigration issues and you may want to speak to Hong Kong Visa Geeza:
http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/8...ml#post2740166
Also, Morrison, what is this "verification day A Sticker" in the passport? Is that just for RTL?