8:14-17 Does this mean that the Holy Spirit baptism can only be received by the laying on of hands?

No! The one hundred and twenty from the upper room were baptized with the Holy Spirit without the laying on of hands on the day of Pentecost (CP 2:1-4). So too was Cornelius and his household (CP 10:30-45).

It is pointless speculating why the believers in Samaria who Philip evangelised were not baptized with the Spirit until Peter and John prayed and laid hands on them. This still happens today - not everyone is baptized with the Spirit immediately they come to Christ.

Also, although it was the apostles who laid hands on these believers to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, that does not mean that only church leaders can administer this baptism.