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Includes: China's achievements during the fourth year of the current five year plan. The effects of rigid central direction. Conversion of agriculture to co-operatives, natural disasters produce a budget deficit, rise in wage rates causes an increase in rationing. External politics and competition with Russia for influence on the European satellites. Relations with the United Kingdom static but affected by the intervention in Suez. Trading relations and the embargo. Foreign Trade of China. Statistics of the estimated trade of China for 1950 to 1956, the balance of visible trade. The I.C.A. report analyses the composition of imports and exports. China's export trade and the growth in consumer goods. Expansion of trade with the Middle East and North Africa. United Kingdom-China Trade. Statistics of trade for the years 1951-1956. Shortage of offers from China. Exports and the 'exceptions procedure'. Hongkong-China Trade. Statistics of trade for the years 1951-1956. Decrease in exports arising from the Chinese policy of buying direct from producers. Increased imports of light industrial products. Effect of a relaxation of the embargo. United Kingdom-Hongkong Trade. Statistics of trade for the years 1951-1956. The function of Hongkong as an entrepot for UK trade with China. Hongkong Trade. Statistics of total trade for the years 1951-1956. Rise in exports of domestic manufactures. Adverse visible balance and invisible earnings. Trade Agreements and Unofficial Visits. Summary of agreements for 1956, and group visits to and from China. Industrial Output and the Five Year Plan. Bulletins of July 20th and October 22nd give itemised figures of Chinese industrial output for 1955 and planned for 1957. Table of reported output for 1956 compared with the plan for 1956 and the target for 1957. Shortage of coal. Over emphasis on reaching targets leads to inefficiency so that plan targets may be revised. Grain and Cotton. Output figures. China's Budget. Actual figures for 1953-1955 and estimates for 1956. Main sources of revenue the profits of State enterprises and taxes, with the former growing in importance. Analysis of Expenditure and commentary. Statistics showing Accumulation, State Revenue and Capital Investment as percentages of National Income and State Expenditure, derived estimate of National Income. China's Currency. Official value of the Yuan unchanged. Opening of free markets for foodstuffs and inflationary pressures. Experiments in "free" trade and "free" markets. Deputy Prime Minister proposes changes to improve quality and stimulate production. At year end a national campaign is started urging restraint in trading in food grains. Transportation Problems in China. Overloading of old trunk railway lines by the traffic from new construction. Railway Construction in 1956. New building reported and some double tracking. China helps railway building in North Vietnam. The Yangtsze Bridge Project. Progress at the Hankow [Hankou] site. The Han railway bridge. Soviet Aid to China. New agreement provides for Soviet help in building a further 55 enterprises in addition to the 156 already under way. Value of the Soviet aid for these new projects Rs.2, 500 million. NOTE on Rouble/Sterling/Yuan exchange rates. The Embargo. Association impresses on HM G. the ineffectiveness of continuing the differential between the embargoes against the communist bloc and China. Report of the Bermuda Conference. The Sino-British Trade Committee. Contact with the Chinese Charge d' Affaires in London. Declaration of support from HM Government British Interests in China. Little change, Patons and Baldwins the sole remaining British industrial interest Far Eastern Banks resume financing of China's overseas trade. Governor's report on Disturbances in Hongkong. Riots in Kowloon and Tsunwan, Hong Kong’s refugee problem. Hongkong and the Lancashire Textile Mission. India reported willing to accept a ceiling on exports to the UK subject to satisfactory arrangements, understood to imply similar restraint on Hongkong and Pakistan. Conference of British Orientalists. Representation of the Association. Appendix. China's Trade with Non-Communist Countries, 1938-1955, Table. China's Trade with Non-Communist Countries, 1955-1956, Table. Chronological Summary of Principal Events, Feb. 29th 1956 to 14th Feb. 1957, includes: - Hongkong Budget 1956-57. HMG policy denies quotas or import restrictions on textiles. I.C.A. Aid for Taiwan. Disorders in Tibet. Use of exceptions procedure on exports to China. China proposes the setting up of a Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in Hongkong. China says ready for negotiations for the peaceful liberation of Taiwan. Peking [Beijing] proposes repayment of investments in private enterprises. Registration of British Trade Marks. Chou En-Lai in Poland. Resumption of Chinese-American talks.
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