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Includes: Introduction. Description of the content of the report. China in 1969. Restricted flow of information from China. Confusion of policies. "Plan the economy like a game of chess" replaced by a return to the "mass line". The Wuhan Conference, modification of the communes, Chou En-Lai goes to Moscow. Liu Shao-Chi is made Chairman and Chu Teh, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the N.P.C. Political differences appear between Peking [Beijing] and Moscow. The Panch Shila principle becomes less evident. Possibilities of disagreement among the Peking [Beijing] leadership. Foreign Trade of China. Trade figures for the years 1950 to 1959 in both Yuan and Sterling. New credit and trade agreement with USSR. Trade with the Free World. Loss of trade to the USSR. Lessening of the export drive in Eastern Markets. Japan trade still at a standstill. Trade with the Communist Bloc. Figures for trade with countries of the bloc for the years 1957 and 1958 and China/USSR trade for 1955 to 1959. Repayment of Russian credits. Balance of Trade. Adverse from 1950 to 1955 and favourable thereafter as a result of Russian loans. Invisible account, longer usance for purchases reduces fund requirements for trade. Composition of Trade. Larger preponderance of producer goods characterises imports, but rising proportion of raw materials and fuel. Rise in exports of minerals and industrial products, but products of agricultural origin still account for 70%. Currency. Increase in note issue, rise in wages and the supply of consumer goods. China's Budget. Revenue and expenditure for the years 1955 to 1959 and forecast for 1960. Analysis of main headings of expenditure. Terms of Payment and of Contract. No change in terms of payment for sales to China but variation in terms of contracts and penalty clauses. The Embargo. Further reductions. Difficulties of British companies manufacturing under US patents. Foreign Aid. No new loans or credits announced. Rate of repayment. Industry. Relative increase in small scale plants. Gross industrial output and the harvests. New industrial developments. Agriculture. Importance to industry, increase in investment. Rate of increase in the grain crop. Transport and shipping. Chartering, construction, savage, wharf improvements. List of railway construction. Yangtsze River Bridge at Chungking. Motor Roads and canals. Civil aviation. China/UK Trade. Figures for the years 1954 to 1959. Failure of China to ship against contracts. Resales of China produce by Continental buyers. Product Commentary. Exports largely industrial raw materials. Imports very irregular making it difficult to establish quotas. Import Licencing. Transfer of China from the relaxation area to the Eastern area for import licencing purposes. Effect on imports. Visits. Remain sparse. The Tourist Visa system for businessmen. Proposed Trade Exhibition in Peking [Beijing]. No progress. British Companies in China. Patons & Baldwins Ltd. transfer their assets. The two British banks operate only in the financing of foreign trade. Shell office remains in being. Sino-British Relations. British Embassy in Peking [Beijing] required to move. Further representations made for the release of share certificates etc. having a foreign currency value. Hongkong. Trade figures for the years 1955 to 1959. Rise in the value of domestic manufactures. The USA. becomes the largest buyer. Dearth of supplies from China, results in a rise in the cost of living index. Hong Kong’s success in exports begins to provoke resistance. Importance of tourism. The Hongkong Committee. Changed relations warrant the establishment of a special committee as a preliminary to the formation of a Hongkong Association. Taiwan. Commentary on the pattern of foreign trade and its economic growth Figures for the years 1950 and 1957 to 1959. The Association's Activities. Problems arising from the delays and defaults in the execution of contracts by China and its transfer to the Eastern Area. Contact with the Sino-British Trade Council. Appendix. China Trade Agreements. Summary for the year 1959. Chronological summary of principal events from 22nd January 1959 to 31st December 1959. Includes: Bank of China closes its Malaya office. China boycott of Singapore trade. Escape of Dalai Lama from Tibet. The 1959 Budget. Foodstuffs shortage in China. China lowers its claims for agricultural performance in 1958 and the targets for 1959 Agreement on ceiling figure for imports to the UK of cotton goods from India, Pakistan and Hongkong. Formosa [Taiwan] changes in trade and exchange control. Khrushchev visits Peking [Beijing]. Start of talks with the USA on the control of textile imports. Capacity of the Hongkong textile industry. Figures of Chinese trade with the world from USA sources for 1938 to 1958 and the Association figures for 1958 and 1959. China's Economic Statistics for 1959 issued by the State Statistical Bureau.
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