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Includes: Chairman' statement, replacing the usual speech from the Chair at the Annual General Meeting. Military and political developments make it necessary to expedite planning for the resumption of business in and with China. Formation of Trade Groups. Provision of the Sino=British Treaty for the conclusion of a treaty of commerce and Navigation, difficulties arising from the inadequacies of the available translations of Chinese laws. Amendment of the Association's Objects Rules and Regulations to raise subscriptions to meet the increased need for funds. Discouraging outlook for the negotiations for a further exchange of civilian prisoners of war. Reports on conditions in civilian camps. Committee meet Dr T.V. Soong on August 6th and with Sir Horace Seymour in December on the subject of post-war trade. Committee meet Dr Yulin Hsi, delegate of Chiang Kai-Shekto study Municipal Government. Committee entertains the Chinese Mission and the Chinese Ambassador. The Association joins the British Federation of Commodity and Allied Trades Association. Resignation of the secretary E.M. Gull and his replacement by C.H.B. Jolly, formerly Commissioner of customs in China. Chinese statements regarding the drafting of business laws following on the abandonment of extrality. REPORT The War in the Far East Improvement of allied position on the Indo-Burmese border, and the passing of the initiative in the South-West Pacific to the forces of the United Nations. Japan's marine losses. Formation of the South-East Asia command. Air freight of supplies to China gives extended bomber range. The Cairo conference, official announcement. Foreign Investment in China. Views of Dr T.V. Soong on Agriculture, Public Utilities, Basic Industries, Consumer Industries. Position of foreign capital. Reciprocity in company law, the future of Shanghai and foreign banks. Subsequent drafting by Dr H.H. Kung of new regulations for Sino-foreign enterprises. Chinese Goodwill Mission to Great Britain. Speeches by Lord Ailwyn and the Chairman Mr W.B. Kennett. Changes arising from the ending of extrality. Reply by Han Lih-wu, treatment of outstanding loans, state control of industry foreign investment. The Chinese Ambassador, restrictive effect in the past of the system of extrality, anticipated future, anticipated future increase in trade. Trade Groups studying Post-War Trade with China. Collaboration with the Federation of British Industries. Letters to traders describing probable post-war conditions and proposing the formation of groups covering the main classes of trade for detailed study. Letter from the Chairman of the Combined Import Groups proposing the formation of an association within and under the aegis of the China Association and setting out the modus operandi. Taxation of the association funds. Agreement with the Inland Revenue that subscriptions to the Association could be treated as a charge against profits provided that any surplus on the years working of the association would be taxable. FB.I. and the Association's Chinese Apprentices Committee. Report.
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