Edgar Filing: CHINA FUND INC

SCHEDULE 14A

Information Required in Proxy Statement
Schedule 14A Information

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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14a-6(e)(2))

[_]Definitive Proxy Statement

[_]Definitive Additional Materials

[_]Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

The China Fund, Inc.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
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previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
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THE CHINA FUND, INC.

c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company
Fund Administration
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

May , 2001

Dear Stockholders:

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will
be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 15, 2001, at the offices of Clifford
Chance Rogers & Wells LLP, Conference Room L, 53rd Floor, 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York, 10166. A Notice and Proxy Statement regarding the meeting,
proxy card for your vote at the meeting, and postage prepaid envelope in which
to return your proxy are enclosed.

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will (i) elect directors of the
Fund; (ii) consider the approval of a new Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement between the Fund and Martin Currie Global Investors Ltd.; (iii)
consider the approval of a new Direct Investment Management Agreement between
the Fund and Asian Direct Capital Management; and (iv) consider recommending
to the Board of Directors that the Board open-end the Fund. In addition, the
stockholders present at the Annual Meeting will hear a report on the Fund and
will have an opportunity to discuss matters of interest to them.

The Board of Directors recommends that you re-elect to the Board the three
current Directors who are standing for re-election (Proposal 1), approve the
new Investment Advisory and Management Agreement between the Fund and Martin
Currie Global Investors Ltd. (Proposal 2), approve the new Direct Investment
Management Agreement between the Fund and Asian Direct Capital Management
(Proposal 3) and you vote against recommending to the Board of Directors that
the Board consider open-ending the Fund (Proposal 4).

Respectfully,

[LOGO TO COME]
/s/ Thomas R. Callahan

Thomas R. Callahan
Secretary

STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE TO INSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING.

THE CHINA FUND, INC.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

May , 2001

To the Stockholders of
The China Fund, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The China
Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held at the offices of Clifford Chance Rogers
& Wells LLP, Conference Room L, 53rd Floor, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New
York, 10166, on Friday, June 15, 2001, at 10:00 A.M., local time, for the
following purposes:

1. To elect one Class I director to serve for a term expiring on the date
on which the annual meeting of stockholders is held in 2003 and to elect
two Class II directors to serve for a term expiring on the date on which
the annual meeting of stockholders is held in 2004.

2. To approve or reject a new Investment Advisory and Management Agreement
between the Fund and Martin Currie Global Investors Ltd.

3. To approve or reject a new Direct Investment Management Agreement
between the Fund and Asian Direct Capital Management.

4. To approve or reject a proposal that the stockholders recommend to the
Board of Directors that the Board consider open-ending the Fund.

5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on May 4, 2001 as the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Stockholders who do not
expect to attend the meeting in person are requested to complete, date and
sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly in the envelope
provided for that purpose. You may nevertheless vote in person at the meeting
if you choose to attend. The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the Board of
Directors of the Fund.

By order of the Board of Directors,

[LOGO TO COME]
/s/ Thomas R. Callahan

Thomas R. Callahan
Secretary

May , 2001

THE CHINA FUND, INC.
c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company
Fund Administration
225 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

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PROXY STATEMENT

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INTRODUCTION

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of THE CHINA FUND, INC. (the "Fund") for use
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held at the offices of Clifford
Chance Rogers & Wells LLP, Conference Room L, 53rd Floor, 200 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10166, on Friday, June 15, 2001, at 10:00 A.M., local time, and
at any adjournments thereof.

This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy are being mailed to stockholders
on or about May , 2001. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to
revoke it by mail (addressed to the Secretary, The China Fund, Inc., c/o State
Street Bank and Trust Company, Fund Administration, 225 Franklin Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110, attention: Ann Casey), or in person at the
meeting, by executing a superseding proxy or by submitting a notice of
revocation to the Fund. All properly executed proxies received in time for the
meeting will be voted as specified in the proxy or, if no specification is
made, for Proposals 1, 2, and 3 and against Proposal 4 referred to in this
Proxy Statement. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the
determination of the number of shares present and voting at the meeting.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on May 4, 2001 as the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at the meeting and at any adjournments thereof. Stockholders on the
record date will be entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares
having cumulative voting rights. As of the record date, the Fund had
outstanding shares of common stock.

Management of the Fund knows of no business other than that mentioned in
Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Notice of Meeting which will be presented for
consideration at the meeting. If any other matter is properly presented, it is
the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in accordance
with their best judgment.

The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report for its
fiscal year ended October 31, 2000 to any stockholder requesting such report.
Requests for the annual report should be made by writing to The China Fund,
Inc., c/o Georgeson Shareholder, 111 Commerce Road, Carlstadt, New Jersey
07072, attention: Michael Starz, or by calling (888) CHN-CALL.

The Board recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of each of the
matters mentioned in Items 1, 2, and 3, and against Item 4, of the Notice of
Meeting.

(1) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend in the absence of
contrary instructions to vote all proxies for the election of James J.
Lightburn as a Class I director to serve for a term expiring on the date on
which the Annual Meeting of stockholders is held in 2003, and for the election
of Michael F. Holland and Burton Levin as Class II directors of the Fund, to
serve for a term expiring on the date on which the Annual Meeting of
stockholders is held in 2004, or until their successors are elected and
qualified. If any such nominee should be unable to serve, an event not now
anticipated, the proxies will be voted for such person, if any, as shall be
designated by the Board of Directors to replace any such nominee. The election
of each director will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes
cast at the meeting. For this purpose, abstentions and broker non-votes will
not be counted as votes cast at the meeting.

Information Concerning Class I and Class II Nominees and Members of the Board
of Directors

The following table sets forth information concerning each of the nominees
as a director of the Fund. All of the nominees are currently directors of the
Fund.

Nominees

Principal Occupation or Shares
Employment During Past Beneficially
Five Years and Owned
Name (Age) and Directorships in Director April 23, Percent of
Address of Director Publicly Held Companies Since 2001(1) Class
------------------------- ------------------------ -------- ------------ ----------

Class I Director

James J. Lightburn (57) Attorney, member of 1992 1,000 less than
47, Avenue Georges Mandel Hughes Hubbard & Reed 1%
Paris, France 75116 (1993-present); member
of Jones, Day, Reavis &
Pogue (1986-1993)

Class II Directors

Michael F. Holland (56) Chairman, Holland & 1992 2,057 less than
375 Park Avenue Company L.L.C. (1995- 1%
New York, New York 10152 present); General
Partner, The Blackstone
Group (1994-1995); Vice
Chairman, Oppenheimer &
Co. Inc. (1992-1994);
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer,
Salomon Brothers Asset
Management, Inc. (1989-
1992); Managing
Director, Salomon
Brothers Inc. (1989-
1992); Director, The
Holland Balanced Fund,
Inc.

Burton Levin (70) Visiting Professor 1992 498 less than
18 Page Farm Road Carleton College (1995- 1%
Sherborn, MA 01770 present); Co-Chairman,
Hopkins-Nanjing Center
(1999-present);
Director, Noble Ltd.
(1997- present); U.S.
Ambassador to Burma
(1987-1990)

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(1) The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements
furnished to the Fund by the nominees and other current directors.

Other Current Directors

Class I Director

Sir Alan Donald (69) British Ambassador to 1992 250 less than
Applebys the People's Republic 1%
Chiddingstone Causeway of China (1988-1991);
Kent, TN11 8JH Director, HSBC China
United Kingdom Fund Limited; Director,
Fleming Asian
Investment Trust;
Director, Fleming Far
Eastern Investment
Trust (1991-1997)
Adviser, Rolls Royce
plc. (1991-2000);

Class III Directors

Joe O. Rogers (52) Vice President of 1992 2,300 less than
2247 Foxwood Drive Business Development, 1%
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 PlanetPortal.com, Inc.
(Sept. 1999-present);
President, Rogers
International, Inc.
(1986- present); Vice
President of Business
Development, Thomson
Consulting (1998-May
1999); Partner, PHH
Fantus Consulting
(1993-1996); Director,
The Taiwan Fund, Inc.

Alan Tremain (65) Chairman of the Board of 1992 4,782 less than
380 South Country Road the Fund; Chairman, 1%
Suite 200 Hotels of Distinction
Palm Beach, Florida 33480 Ventures, Inc. (1989-
present); Chairman,
Hotels of Distinction
(International), Inc.
(1974-present).

Nigel S. Tulloch (54) Chief Executive, HSBC 1992 2,000 less than
7, Circe Circle, Asset Management 1%
Dalkeith Bahamas Limited (1986-
WA6009, 1992); Director, The
Australia HSBC China Fund
Limited.

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(1) The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements
furnished to the Fund by the nominees and other current directors.

The Fund's Board of Directors has an Audit Committee which is responsible
for reviewing financial and accounting matters. All of the current members of
the Board of Directors are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee
met four times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000. The Audit
Committee adopted a charter on December 9, 1999, which is attached as Exhibit
A hereto. The Fund's Board has a Nominating Committee, comprised of the
current members of the Audit Committee, which is responsible for nominating
candidates to fill any vacancies on the Board. The Nominating Committee does
not consider nominees recommended by security holders. The Nominating
Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000. The
Fund's Board of Directors held four regular meetings and two special meetings
during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000. Each director attended at least
seventy-five percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and any
committee on which he served.

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Fund's
officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of the Fund's equity securities, to file reports of ownership
and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. The Fund believes that its officers and
directors have complied with all applicable filing requirements for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2000. Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the "1940 Act") extends the reporting requirements under Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to the investment advisers of the Fund
and the officers and directors of such investment advisers. The Fund believes
that its investment advisers and the officers and directors of such investment
advisers have complied with all applicable filing requirements for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2000.

Officers of the Fund

Mr. Thomas R. Callahan (age 54) has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Fund
since July 1992 and Vice President of the Fund since June 1993. Since April
1991, he has been a Managing Director of HSBC Securities, Inc. and previously
was a Managing Director of Wardley Incorporated.

Fund Management and Administration

HSBC Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited ("HSBC Management") has acted as
investment manager for the portion of the Fund's assets allocated for
investment in listed securities pursuant to an investment advisory and
management agreement between HSBC Management and the Fund (the "Existing
Investment Advisory and Management Agreement"). The principal business address
of HSBC Management is 12F, Tower 1, HSBC Centre, 1 Sham Mong Road, Kowloon,
Hong Kong. The Fund gave a notice of termination to HSBC Management under the
Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement on March 23, 2001. (See
"Termination of Existing Advisory and Investment Management Agreement;
Approval of New Advisory and Investment Management Agreement" under Proposal 2
below.)

HSBC Private Equity Management (Hong Kong) Limited ("HSBC Private Equity")
acted as direct investment manager for the portion of the Fund's assets
allocated for investment in direct investments pursuant to a direct investment
management agreement among HSBC Private Equity, HSBC Management and the Fund
(the "Former Direct Investment Management Agreement"). The principal business
address of HSBC Private Equity is Level 17, 1 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.
The Fund gave notice of termination to HSBC Private Equity, effective April 7,
2001, under the Former Direct Investment Management Agreement. (See
"Termination of Former Direct Investment Management Agreement; Approval of New
Direct Investment Management Agreement" under Proposal 3 below.)

State Street Bank and Trust Company ("SSBT") acts as Administrator to the
Fund pursuant to an Administration Agreement between the Administrator and the
Fund. The principal business address of the Administrator is P.O. Box 1713,
Boston, Massachusetts 02105.

Transactions with and Remuneration of Officers and Directors

The aggregate remuneration for directors not affiliated with HSBC Management
or HSBC Private Equity was US$240,500 during the year ended October 31, 2000
and, for that period, the aggregate amount of expenses reimbursed by the Fund
for directors' attendance at directors' meetings, including affiliated
directors, was US$78,110. Each non-affiliated director currently receives
fees, paid by the Fund, of US$2,000 for each directors' meeting and committee
meeting attended and an annual fee of US$10,000. The Chairman of the Fund
receives an annual fee of US$12,500.

The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation from the Fund paid
to each director during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000. HSBC
Management and its affiliates do not advise any other U.S. registered
investment companies of which any of the directors of the Fund are directors
or trustees.

Aggregate
Compensation
Name of Director From Fund(1)
---------------- ------------

Sir Alan Donald............................................. $30,625
John W. English*............................................ $30,000
Paul C. Guidone**........................................... --
Michael F. Holland.......................................... $30,000
Burton Levin................................................ $28,000
James J. Lightburn.......................................... $30,000
Joe O. Rogers............................................... $30,000
Alan Tremain................................................ $31,875
Nigel S. Tulloch............................................ $30,000

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(1) Includes compensation paid to directors by the Fund. The Fund's directors
did not receive any pension or retirement benefits as compensation for
their service as directors of the Fund.
* Mr. English died on March 27, 2001.
** Mr. Guidone who was an "interested person" of the Fund because of his
affiliation with HSBC Management, did not receive any compensation from
the Fund for his services as director during the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2000. Mr. Guidone resigned from the Fund, effective January
31, 2001.

The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that the stockholders vote
"FOR" each of the nominees for Director.

(2) APPROVAL OR REJECTION OF A NEW INVESTMENT
ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Termination of Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement; Approval
of New Advisory and Investment Management Agreement

HSBC Management has served as manager of the Fund's assets allocated to
listed investments pursuant to the Existing Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement since 1992. In January, 2001, when the Board of Directors of the
Fund determined to retain a new manager of the Fund's direct investments, it
also decided to consider retaining a new manager for the Fund's listed
investments. Potential managers of the Fund's listed investments, including
HSBC Management, were then requested to submit proposals, and, with the
assistance of a consulting firm, the Board requested a number of those
submitting proposals to make presentations to the Board of Directors. The
information about potential investment managers reviewed by the Board included
information regarding the investment managers' presence and experience in
China; the number and types of clients including other investment funds; the
amount of assets under management; the number of persons employed and
information regarding the education and employment experience of their
principal investment officers; their compliance systems and personnel; their
affiliations; their performance in investing in the China markets; and the
proposed fees. Based on its review of this information and the presentations
made to the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the Fund, including
a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the 1940 Act), approved entering into a new investment advisory and
management agreement (the "New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement")
with Martin Currie Global Investors Ltd. ("Martin Currie"). The Board
anticipates that the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement will
become effective at such time as the stockholders approve the New Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement.

Following the selection of Martin Currie as the Fund's new investment
manager for the portion of the Fund's assets allocated to listed investments,
the Fund provided HSBC Management with written notice of termination as
investment manager of the Fund under the Existing Investment Advisory and
Management Agreement. The effective date of the termination will be such date
between June 15 and June 30, 2001 as is mutually acceptable to HSBC Management
and to Martin Currie provided that the stockholders approve Martin Currie at
the Annual Meeting, or, if the stockholders do not approve Martin Currie as
the new investment manager at the Annual Meeting, then on such other date as
the stockholders approve a new investment manager. In the event that Martin
Currie is approved by the stockholders prior to June 30, 2001, but HSBC
Management and Martin Currie cannot agree on a mutually acceptable date of
termination, then the Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement
will terminate on June 30, 2001.

If so approved, the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement will
continue in effect for an initial two-year term and thereafter for successive
annual periods as long as such continuance is approved in accordance with the
1940 Act.

A description of the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement,
including the services to be provided by Martin Currie, thereunder, is set
forth below. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
form of the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement attached to this
Proxy Statement as Exhibit B.

The New Investment Manager

Martin Currie is a company incorporated in Scotland on January 21, 2000
under the 1985 Companies Act and is regulated in the conduct of its investment
business by the Investment Management Regulatory Organization Limited
("IMRO"). Martin Currie is a wholly owned subsidiary of Martin Currie Ltd.
("MC Ltd."). The Martin Currie Group, as defined below, is a leading Scottish
investment management company, privately owned, controlled and managed by its
full time executives, founded in 1881. Martin Currie's and MC Ltd.'s principal
address is Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2ES.
Investment management activities are run from the Edinburgh headquarters.
However, in the case of the Fund, Chris Ruffle, who will be the portfolio
manager, is based in Taiwan and the China research team is based in Edinburgh
and in Shanghai, China.

Martin Currie is a registered investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 and offers portfolio management services to taxable and
nontaxable institutional investors investing in United States and
international equity. Martin Currie is part of a group of companies owned by
MC Ltd. which includes four other fully operating subsidiaries: Martin Currie
Inc, Martin Currie Investment Management Ltd., ("MCIM"), Martin Currie Unit
Trusts and Martin Currie Private Clients Ltd. (collectively, the "Martin
Currie Group"). As of March 31, 2001, the Martin Currie Group had assets under
management totaling approximately $9.3 billion. Funds managed by the Martin
Currie Group in the Asia Pacific region (excluding Japan) currently amount to
approximately $1.1 billion.

The Martin Currie Group has been investing in emerging markets since the
1930s and has been managing open-ended specialist country funds since the
early 1990s. Two of those funds, which are managed by MCIM, The China
Heartland Fund and The Taiwan Opportunities Fund, both led by Chris Ruffle,
have an AA rating from Standard and Poor's Fund Research. In addition, MCIM's
four year old research joint venture with China Securities gives Martin Currie
an insight into the Chinese market which Martin Currie believes results in
beneficial investment decisions for clients. Martin Currie has managers and
analysts based in Edinburgh, Shanghai and Taipei focusing upon China and
Taiwan. Led by Chris Ruffle, who is based in Taipei, this team has a combined
experience of approximately 40 years investing in the region and includes two
former heads of research.

The following table sets forth the name and principal occupation of the
principal executive officers and of each director of the New Investment
Manager. The business address of each person listed below (except for Steve
Johnson) is: Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2ES.
The business address of Steve Johnson is 53 Forest Ave., Old Greenwich,
Connecticut, 06870.

Name Principal Occupation
---- --------------------------------------------------

Tim Hall, Director.......... Director and Head of Client Services, MCIM
Steve Johnson, Director..... Head of Marketing, Martin Currie, Inc.
Jean de Bolle, Director..... Head of Emerging Markets team, Martin Currie, MCIM
Chris Ruffle, Director Asia Head of Asia team, Martin Currie, MCIM
team.......................

Biography of portfolio manager:

Chris Ruffle

Mr. Ruffle joined MCIM in 1994. Mr. Ruffle has over 13 years investment
experience in Asia. Fluent in Mandarin and Japanese, Mr. Ruffle has worked in
the Far East since 1983. He worked originally in Beijing and Shanghai and then
in Australia for a metal trading company. He moved to Warburg Securities in
1987 as an analyst in Tokyo, before establishing Warburg's office in Taiwan
(1990-1993). Mr. Ruffle manages The Taiwan Opportunities Fund and The China
Heartland Fund.

MCIM manages two funds with a similar investment objective as the Fund, The
China Heartland Fund and The Taiwan Opportunities Fund. MCIM has never waived
or reduced compensation for either fund and their details are as follows:

Net Assets at
March 31,
Fund 2001 Annual Compensation
---- ------------- -------------------------

China Heartland Fund................. US$38 million 1.5% of fund's net assets
Taiwan Opportunities Fund............ US$70 million 1.5% of fund's net assets

The Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement

The Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement was last approved
by the stockholders of the Fund on March 13, 1998 and was last approved by the
Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the directors who are
not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party thereto, at
a meeting of the Board of Directors held on June 8, 2000.

Under the terms of the Existing Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement, HSBC Management manages the portion of the Fund's assets invested
in listed investments (the "Listed Assets"), including furnishing advice and
making recommendations regarding the purchase and sale of the Fund's Listed
Assets. HSBC Management, with respect to the Fund's Listed Assets, places all
orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities for the Fund with
brokers or dealers it selects, and is authorized as agent of the Fund to give
instructions to the custodians of the Fund's Listed Assets as to deliveries of
securities and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. HSBC Management
is responsible for the compensation and expenses of those of the Fund's
Directors who are directors, officers and employees of HSBC Management, except
that the Fund bears travel expenses or an appropriate fraction thereof of
Directors and officers of the Fund to the extent such expenses relate to
attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

Under the terms of the Existing Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement, HSBC Management is permitted to provide investment advisory
services to other clients, including clients who may invest in China companies
so long as the investment management services to the Fund are not impaired
thereby.

The Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement provides that HSBC
Management is not liable for any act or omission, error of judgment or mistake
of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with matters to
which the Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement relates,
except for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of HSBC Management in the performance of its duties, or
from reckless disregard by HSBC Management of its obligations and duties under
the Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement.

For its service under the Existing Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement, HSBC Management receives a fee, computed weekly and payable
monthly, at an annual rate of 1.10% of the Fund's average weekly net assets.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000, HSBC Management received a fee of
US$1,658,470 from the Fund. Out of this fee, HSBC was responsible for paying
fees to HSBC Private Equity for management of the Fund's direct investments.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000, the Fund incurred commissions on
the purchase and sale of securities of US$799,249.

The New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement

The terms of the New Advisory and Investment Management Agreement are
substantially the same as the terms of the Existing Advisory and Investment
Management Agreement. The holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (within the meaning of the 1940 Act) of the Fund are being asked to
approve the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement.

Under the terms of the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement,
Martin Currie will manage the Fund's Listed Assets. Martin Currie, with
respect to the Fund's Listed Assets, will place all orders for the purchase or
sale of portfolio securities for the Fund's Listed Assets with brokers or
dealers it selects, and will be authorized as agent of the Fund to give
instructions to the custodians of the Fund's Listed Assets as to deliveries of
securities and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. Martin Currie
will be responsible for the compensation and expenses of those of the Fund's
Directors who are directors, officers and employees of Martin Currie, except
that the Fund will bear travel expenses or an appropriate fraction thereof of
Directors and officers of the Fund to the extent such expenses related to
attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

Under the terms of the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement,
Martin Currie will be permitted to provide investment advisory services to
other clients, including clients who may invest in direct investment in China
companies so long as the direct investment management services to the Fund are
not impaired thereby.

The New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement provides that Martin
Currie will not be liable for any act or omission, error of judgment or
mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with
matters to which the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement relates,
except for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of Martin Currie in the performance of its duties, or
from reckless disregard by Martin Currie of its obligations and duties under
the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement. Martin Currie will
perform its obligations under the New Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement under the laws of IMRO.

For its services under the New Advisory and Investment Management Agreement,
Martin Currie will receive a fee (the "New Investment Management Fee"),
computed weekly and payable monthly, at the following annual rates: 1.00% of
the first $25,000,000 of the Fund's average weekly net assets consisting of
Listed Assets; 0.90% of the next $25,000,000 of the Fund's average weekly net
assets consisting of Listed Assets; 0.70% of the next $25,000,000 of the
Fund's average weekly net assets consisting of Listed Assets; and 0.50% of the
Fund's average weekly net assets for all Listed Assets in excess of
$75,000,000.

The New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement may be terminated at
any time, without payment of any penalty, by the Fund or by Martin Currie upon
sixty days' written notice or by vote of the stockholders of the Fund. The New
Investment Advisory and Management Agreement will automatically terminate in
the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.

Based on the portion of the Fund's net assets invested in Listed Assets, and
the portion of the Fund's net assets invested in direct investments, as of
April [20], 2001, the Fund would have paid aggregate management fees under the
New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and under the New Direct
Investment Management Agreement discussed under Proposal 3 below at the annual
rate of .87%, or US$1,268,764, which is lower than the rate at which the Fund
paid HSBC Management under the Existing Investment Advisory and Management
Agreement (from which HSBC Management paid HSBC Private Equity for management
of the Fund's direct investments). Of this amount, the New Investment
Management Fee would be paid at the annual rate of 0.698%, or US$968,764.
While the Fund has allocated 25% of its assets for direct investments, at
[April 20], substantially less than 25% of its assets were invested in direct
investments. If the full amount allocated to direct investment were in the
future invested in direct investments, it is likely that the aggregate
management fees paid by the Fund under the New Investment Advisory and
Management Agreement and under the New Direct Investment Management Agreement
would be at an annual rate greater than .87%.

In the event that stockholders of the Fund do not approve the New Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, the Board will take such action as it deems
in the best interest of the Fund and its stockholders, which may include
proposing that stockholders approve an agreement in lieu of the New Advisory
and Investment Management Agreement.

Stockholder Approval

To become effective, the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement
must be approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Fund. The "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" is
defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the
shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon present at the Meeting if the
holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in
person or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon.

The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that you vote "FOR" approval
of the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement.

(3) APPROVAL OR REJECTION OF A NEW DIRECT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Termination of Former Direct Investment Management Agreement; Approval of New
Direct Investment Management Agreement

HSBC Private Equity served as manager of the Fund's direct investments
pursuant to the Former Direct Investment Management Agreement from 1992 until
April 2001. In June 2000, HSBC Private Equity advised the Fund that it would
not undertake any new direct investments on behalf of the Fund. The Board,
believing that there are untapped opportunities for direct investments by the
Fund, decided to pursue other options for management of the Fund's assets
allocated to direct investments. With the assistance of a consulting firm, the
Board gathered information about a number of direct investment managers, and,
in December 2000, the Board reached the conclusion that Asian Direct Capital
Management ("ADCM" or the "New Direct Investment Manager"), an affiliate of
SSBT, the Fund's Administrator, was the most qualified candidate, and
conducted an in-depth interview with

ADCM. In considering potential direct investment managers the Board reviewed
the direct investment managers' presence and experience in China; information
regarding the number and types of clients advised by the direct investment
managers, including other investment funds; the amount of assets under
management; the number of persons employed and information regarding the
education and employment experience of their principal investment officers;
the compliance systems and personnel; their affiliations; their performance;
and the proposed fees. Based on its review of this information, the Board of
Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors of the Fund who
are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act), approved the
appointment of ADCM as the Fund's new direct investment manager to take effect
at such time as ADCM registers under the 1940 Act, as amended, and that the
Former Direct Investment Management Agreement be terminated.

Following selection of ADCM as the Fund's new direct investment manager, the
Fund provided HSBC Private Equity with written notice of termination as direct
investment manager of the Fund under the Former Direct Investment Management
Agreement. The Fund entered into the new direct investment management
agreement with an affiliate of ADCM that became effective on April 3, 2001,
with ADCM acting as a subadvisor to the affiliate, until ADCM obtained a
Cayman Island companies management license. Upon receipt of this license, the
new direct investment management agreement will be reformed with the Fund
entering into an agreement with ADCM directly (the "New Direct Investment
Management Agreement"). Continuance of the New Direct Investment Management
Agreement for a period beyond 150 days from its effective date is subject to
stockholder approval. If so approved, the New Direct Investment Management
Agreement will continue in effect for an initial two-year term and thereafter
for successive annual periods as long as such continuance is approved in
accordance with the 1940 Act.

A description of the New Direct Investment Management Agreement, including
the services to be provided by ADCM, thereunder, is set forth below. The
description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of the New
Direct Investment Management Agreement attached to this Proxy Statement as
Exhibit C.

The New Direct Investment Manager

The New Direct Investment Manager was established in 1997 as part of State
Street Global Advisors ("SSgA"), the investment management division of State
Street Corporation ("State Street"), to build and conduct private equity
investment activities in Asia. In January 2001, the Direct Investment Manager
was incorporated as a separate legal entity in the Cayman Islands as an
exempted company. The New Direct Investment Manager is a majority-owned (70%)
indirect subsidiary of State Street and the New Direct Investment Manager's
principal executives own the remaining minority share (30%).

State Street, one of the world's leading specialists in serving
institutional investors, provides a full range of products and services for
portfolios of investment assets. State Street conducts its business
principally through its subsidiary, SSBT, and traces its beginnings to 1792.
State Street is a market leader in providing investment advisory and
management services. State Street has approximately US$5.8 trillion of assets
under custody and over US$700 billion of assets under management as of March
31, 2001 (of which approximately US$28 million was under the management of the
New Direct Investment Manager). Customers of State Street include mutual funds
and other collective funds, corporate and public pension funds, corporations,
unions and not for profit organizations globally. SSgA's principal address is
Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The New Direct
Investment Manager's principal address is Bank of China Tower, 48th Floor, 1
Garden Road, Hong Kong.

The New Direct Investment Manager is a registered investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and it provides investment advisory
services to institutions seeking to invest in private equity in Asia. These
advisory services include sourcing, managing, monitoring and executing

private equity investments in Asia. The New Direct Investment Manager has not
served as an investment adviser to any investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, other than the Fund. The New Direct Investment
Manager draws upon the capabilities of its asset management specialists
located in its various offices throughout Asia. It also draws upon the
research capabilities of its affiliates in the State Street group of
companies.

The following table sets forth the name and principal occupation of the
principal executive officers and of each director of the New Direct Investment
Manager. The business address of each person listed below (except for Mitchell
Shames and John Snow) is: Bank of China Tower, 48th Floor, 1 Garden Road, Hong
Kong. The business address for Mitchell Shames and John Snow is: Two
International Place, 34th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.

Name Principal Occupation
---- ------------------------

Koh Kuek Chiang, Director and Executive Director....... Executive Director, ADCM
Raymond C. Hood, Director and Managing Director........ Managing Director, ADCM
Mitchell H. Shames, Director........................... Chief Counsel, SSgA
John R. Snow, Director and Chairman.................... Managing Director, SSgA
Thomas HK Miu, Treasurer and Secretary................. Business Manager, ADCM

Biography of portfolio manager:

Koh Kuek Chiang

Mr. Koh joined the New Direct Investment Manager in 1998. Mr. Koh has over
10 years of private equity investment experience in the US, Europe and Asia
working for the Government of Singapore, Union Bank of Switzerland and private
interests. His investment experience covers a wide range of industries,
including telecommunication equipment, biotech, media, financial services and
basic materials. Mr. Koh graduated with an engineering degree from the
University of Western Australia and has a post-graduate Diploma in Business
Administration from the National University of Singapore. He is a Chartered
Financial Analyst and is fluent in English and Mandarin.

The Former Direct Investment Management Agreement

HSBC Private Equity has managed the Fund's direct investments since 1992.
Under the terms of the Former Direct Investment Management Agreement, HSBC
Private Equity managed the portion of the Fund's assets invested in direct
investments, including furnishing advice and making recommendations regarding
the purchase and sale of the Fund's assets allocated to direct investments.
Under the Former Direct Investment Management Agreement, the Fund allocated
25% of the net proceeds of the Offering as defined in the Fund's Prospectus,
dated July 10, 1992, to direct investments. HSBC Private Equity also monitored
the execution of transactions and settlement and clearance of the Fund's
securities in transactions in direct investments, and was authorized as agent
of the Fund to give instructions to the custodians of the Fund's direct
investments. HSBC Private Equity was responsible for the compensation and
expenses of those of the Fund's Directors who were directors, officers and
employees of HSBC Private Equity, except that the Fund bore travel expenses or
an appropriate fraction thereof of Directors and officers of the Fund to the
extent such expenses related to attendance at meetings of the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof.

Under the terms of the Former Direct Investment Management Agreement, HSBC
Private Equity was permitted to provide investment advisory services to other
clients, including clients who may invest in direct investments in China
companies so long as the direct investment management services to the Fund
were not impaired thereby.

The Former Direct Investment Management Agreement provided that HSBC Private
Equity was not liable for any act or omission, error of judgment or mistake of
law, or for any loss suffered by the

Fund in connection with matters to which the Former Direct Investment
Management Agreement related, except for losses resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of HSBC Private Equity
in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by HSBC Private
Equity of its obligations and duties under the Former Direct Investment
Management.

For its services under the Former Direct Investment Management Agreement,
HSBC Private Equity received from HSBC Management a portion of the fee paid to
HSBC Management. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2000, HSBC Management
received a fee of US$1,658,470 from the Fund. From this fee, HSBC Private
Equity earned a fee of US$227,556, which was paid or payable by HSBC
Management.

The New Direct Investment Management Agreement

The terms of the New Direct Investment Management Agreement are
substantially the same as the terms of the Former Direct Investment Management
Agreement. The holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
(within the meaning of the 1940 Act) of the Fund are being asked to approve
the New Direct Investment Management Agreement.

Under the terms of the New Direct Investment Management Agreement, ADCM
manages the portion of the Fund's assets invested in direct investments,
including furnishing advice and making recommendations regarding the purchase
and sale of the Fund's assets allocated to direct investments. For purposes of
determining the portion of the Fund's assets invested in direct investments,
such assets are valued at their cost (i.e., the amount expended by the Fund to
acquire them) rather than their then current value or on such other basis as
may be agreed by ADCM and the Fund. ADCM monitors the execution of
transactions and settlement and clearance of the Fund's securities in
transactions in direct investments, and is authorized as agent of the Fund to
give instructions to the custodians of the Fund's direct investments. ADCM is
responsible for the compensation and expenses of those of the Fund's Directors
who are directors, officers and employees of ADCM, except that the Fund will
bear travel expenses or an appropriate fraction thereof of Directors and
officers of the Fund to the extent such expenses related to attendance at
meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

Under the terms of the New Direct Investment Management Agreement, ADCM is
permitted to provide investment advisory services to other clients, including
clients who may invest in direct investment in China companies so long as the
direct investment management services to the Fund are not impaired thereby.

The New Direct Investment Management Agreement provides that ADCM is not
liable for any act or omission, error of judgment or mistake of law, or for
any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with matters to which the New
Direct Investment Management Agreement relates, except for losses resulting
from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of ADCM in
the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by ADCM of its
obligations and duties under the New Direct Investment Management.

Until the New Direct Investment Management Agreement is approved by vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting Securities (within the
meaning of the 1940 Act) (the "Approval Date"), ADCM has no obligation to
select new direct investments for investment by the Fund, its obligations
under the New Direct Investment Management Agreement being limited to
monitoring the direct investments held by the Fund on April 3, 2001. Upon
receipt of such approval, ADCM will be obligated to seek new direct investment
opportunities for the Fund under the New Direct Investment Management
Agreement.

Until the Approval Date, ADCM receives a fee for its services under the New
Direct Investment Management Agreement computed weekly and payable monthly at
an annual rate equal to 1.10% of the average weekly value of the assets of the
Fund invested in direct investments on April 3, 2001.

For its services under the New Direct Investment Management Agreement after
the Approval Date, ADCM will receive a fee (the "New Direct Investment
Management Fee"), computed weekly and payable monthly at an annual rate equal
to the greater of $300,000 or 2.2% of the average weekly value of the assets
of the Fund invested in direct investments. This fee is higher than those paid
by most other U.S. investment companies, primarily because of the considerable
time and expense required in pursuing the Fund's objective of making direct
investments in China companies.

The New Direct Investment Management Agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by the Fund or by ADCM upon sixty days'
written notice or by vote of the stockholders of the Fund. The New Direct
Investment Management Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of
its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.

Based on the portion of the Fund's net assets invested in Listed Assets, and
the portion of the Fund's net assets invested in direct investments, as of
April [20], 2001, the Fund would have paid aggregate management fees under the
New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and under the New Direct
Investment Management Agreement at the annual rate of .87%, or US$1,268,764,
which is lower than the rate at which the Fund paid HSBC Management under the
Existing Investment Advisory and Management Agreement (from which HSBC
Management paid HSBC Private Equity for management of the Fund's direct
investments). Of this amount, New Direct Investment Management Fee of
US$300,000 would have been paid. While the Fund has allocated 25% of its
assets for direct investments, at [April 20], 2001, substantially less than
25% of its assets were invested in direct investments. If the full amount
allocated to direct investment were in the future invested in direct
investments, it is likely that the aggregate management fees paid by the Fund
under the New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and under the New
Direct Investment Management Agreement would be at an annual rate greater than
.87%.

In the event that stockholders of the Fund do not approve the New Direct
Investment Management Agreement, the Board will take such action as it deems
in the best interest of the Fund and its stockholders, which may include
proposing that stockholders approve an agreement in lieu of the New Direct
Investment Management Agreement.

Stockholder Approval

To become effective, the New Direct Investment Management Agreement must be
approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund. The "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" is defined
under the 1940 Act as the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares
of the Fund entitled to vote thereon present at the Meeting if the holders of
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or
represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund entitled to vote thereon.

The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that you vote "FOR" approval
of the New Direct Investment Management Agreement.

(4) APPROVAL OR A REJECTION OF A PROPOSAL THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS RECOMMEND TO
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER OPEN-ENDING THE FUND

The Board recognizes that the Fund's shares have been trading at a discount
to net asset value and that this is a matter of concern to stockholders. This
is a subject that the Board reviews at each of

its regular meetings. The Board is concerned by the discount and it has taken
a number of steps to reduce or eliminate the discount, including through the
initiation of a share repurchase program and its decision to change investment
advisers. Another possible measure that the Board can take to reduce the
discount is to open end the Fund. The Board does not endorse open-ending the
Fund, but it believes that stockholders should have the opportunity to express
their views on this subject. The Board is submitting the open-ending
resolution set forth below to the stockholders as a way to gauge the level of
concern that stockholders have about the discount. The Board nevertheless
believes, for the reasons discussed below, that open-ending is not in the best
interests of stockholders and recommends that stockholders vote against the
proposal. Approval of the resolution by stockholders will not in itself result
in open-ending of the Fund, but will be considered by the Board, along with
other factors, in determining what actions to take in respect of the discount.

Resolution

RESOLVED, that the stockholders recommend that the Board of Directors
consider open-ending the Fund.

Past Action Taken by Board to Reduce the Discount

The Board of Directors has regularly considered, and on a number of
occasions, has taken steps directed at reducing the discount and increasing
stockholder value. The Board believes that by increasing stockholder value,
the Fund's shares will become more attractive to investors, which should help
to reduce the discount. The following is a discussion of actions taken by the
Board during the last several years to increase stockholder value.

On a number of occasions, the Board has acted to reduce the fees paid by the
Fund to its service providers, or to replace service providers when it felt
that another entity could better, and more economically, serve the interests
of the Fund. For example, the Fund has terminated the arrangements with its
Shareholder Servicing Agent on two different occasions in favor of a different
entity that was able to provide services for a lesser fee. On March 15, 1996,
the Board voted to terminate the services of Oppenheimer & Co., the Fund's
Shareholder Servicing Agent at that time, and instead retained Dewe Rogerson
in this capacity. This change in Shareholder Servicing Agents resulted in an
estimated savings to the Fund of $16,000 per year. On March 9, 2000, the Board
voted to terminate the services of Dewe Rogerson and to retain the services of
Corporate Investor Communications as the Fund's new Shareholder Servicing
Agent. This most recent change in Shareholder Servicing Agents resulted in
estimated savings to the Fund of $72,000 per year. The Board of Directors also
reduced the fees of HSBC Management several times during the course of the
Fund's history. Since the Fund's inception, the fees paid to HSBC Management
were reduced through several reductions from 1.5% to 1.1% of the Fund's
average net assets.

Also, as discussed in this Proxy Statement, the Board has terminated the
Former Direct Investment Management Agreement and has given notice of
termination with respect to the Existing Investment Advisory and Management
Services Agreement. The Board believes that, if the proposed new advisory
arrangements are approved by the stockholders, the Fund's investment
performance will be enhanced. The Board believes that, by increasing
stockholder value by taking these steps, it is making the Fund's shares more
attractive to investors, which should help to reduce the discount.

As mentioned above, the Board also adopted a share repurchase program in
September 1998. Under this program, the Fund was authorized to repurchase up
to $15 million of the Fund's outstanding shares over a period not to exceed
one year. The purpose of the program was to increase stockholder value by
purchasing shares at a discount and to reduce the discount to net asset value
at which the Fund's shares traded. The Board believes that, the share
repurchase program succeeded in temporarily reducing the discount to net asset
value of Fund shares.

Explanation of Closed-End Funds vs. Open-End Funds

You may find the following background information useful in your
consideration of Proposal 4. Additional information concerning differences
between closed-end and open-end funds is set forth in the discussion of
Proposal 4 below.

A closed-end fund like the Fund does not issue new shares or redeem shares
each day. Instead, the Fund's shares trade freely on the New York Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") like those of any public company. Supply and demand
forces and other factors influence the market prices of the Fund's shares.
Just as an industrial company's shares can trade above or below book value,
the Fund's shares can trade at levels above their net asset value (called a
"market premium") or below their net asset value (called a "market discount").

In contrast, an open-end fund's shares are not traded on any stock exchange.
Stockholders obtain liquidity by selling their shares back to the fund at
their net asset value (called a "redemption"). By law, an open-end fund must
stand ready to redeem its shares on any business day with no advance notice.
The open-end fund must continuously offer and sell new shares to offset these
redemptions. Otherwise, the open-end fund will become too small to invest in
an adequately diversified portfolio, and its fixed expenses will become a
heavy burden on investment returns.

Both the closed-end and open-end fund formats have advantages. The open-end
format works well when investing in highly liquid securities, presented as
part of a broad family of open-end funds having a variety of investment
objectives, offered with stockholder services such as exchange privileges, and
sold through an established broker or direct distribution network.

The closed-end format is especially well suited for specialty investing,
such as in the stocks of companies in a particular foreign country or region.
As many of those securities are relatively illiquid, the closed-end format
frees the portfolio manager or managers to concentrate on investments, rather
than holding part of the assets in easier-to-sell securities to meet
redemptions. For these situations the closed-end format is more suitable.

Certain Effects of Conversion on the Fund

In addition to the inherent characteristics of open-end investment companies
described above, the Fund's conversion to an open-end fund potentially would
have the consequences described below.

ELIMINATION OF DISCOUNT AND PREMIUM. Open-end funds are required to redeem
their shares at a price based upon their then-current net asset value (except
under certain circumstances, such as when the NYSE is closed or trading
thereon is restricted, or when redemptions may otherwise be suspended in an
emergency as permitted by the 1940 Act). The open-end fund structure thus
precludes the possibility of the open-end fund's shares trading at a discount
from, or a premium to, net asset value. Open-end funds generally are required
to value their assets on each business day in order to determine the current
net asset value on the basis of which their shares may be redeemed by
stockholders or purchased by investors. Net asset values of most open-end
funds are published daily by leading financial publications. The shares of
closed-end investment companies, on the other hand, are bought and sold in the
securities markets at prevailing market prices, which may be equal to, less
than, or more than net asset value.

Upon conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, stockholders
who wished to realize the value of their shares would be able to do so by
redeeming their shares at net asset value (less a redemption fee, which may be
imposed by the Fund). As a result, the discount from net asset value at which
the Fund's shares currently trade on the NYSE would be eliminated. Conversion
also would eliminate, however, any possibility that the Fund's shares could
trade at a premium over net

asset value and could result in the potential adverse effects on the Fund's
portfolio management and expense ratio, as discussed below.

RAISING CAPITAL. A closed-end fund trading at a discount may not be able to
raise capital through share sales (other than through a rights offering) when
it believes further investment would be advantageous, because the 1940 Act
restricts the ability of a closed-end fund to sell its shares at a price below
net asset value. Open-end funds, on the other hand, are priced at net asset
value and therefore can sell additional shares at any time. This ability to
raise new money can achieve greater economies of scale and improve investment
management by making more capital available for investment.

ELIMINATION OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS. As a closed-end fund listed on
the NYSE, the Fund is subject to NYSE rules requiring annual meetings of
stockholders. Unlike the Fund, open-end funds are not required to hold annual
stockholder meetings, except in special circumstances where stockholder
approval is required under the 1940 Act. Consequently, the Fund would save the
annual fees associated with annual stockholder meetings and the annual
exchange listing fees. (See "Registration of Securities" below.)

Your Board of Directors urges you to vote "against" Proposal 4.

The Board of Directors certainly understands, as described above that if the
Fund were open-ended the ability of stockholders to redeem their shares at net
asset value less the applicable redemption fee, if any, and the fact that the
Fund's shares would not trade at a discount or a premium would benefit certain
stockholders. Nevertheless, your Board of Directors does not believe that
open-ending the Fund would benefit stockholders generally, particularly
longer-term stockholders, and is strongly opposed to Proposal 4 for the
following reasons:

NEED TO ELIMINATE OR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT
INVESTMENTS. If the Fund were converted to an open-end fund, it would not be
permitted to have more than 15% of the value of its net assets invested in
illiquid securities. As a result, the Fund would need to substantially reduce
or eliminate its direct investment activities, which the Board of Directors
considers to be one of the unique features of the Fund.

POTENTIAL INCREASE IN EXPENSE RATIO AND DECREASE IN SIZE. Conversion to an
open-end fund would raise the possibility of the Fund's suffering substantial
redemptions of its shares, particularly in the period immediately following
the conversion. Unless the Fund was able to retain a distributor to sell its
shares that was able to generate sales of new shares sufficient to offset
these redemptions, the asset size of the Fund would shrink. Because certain of
the Fund's operating expenses are fixed or substantially fixed, a decrease in
the Fund's asset size would likely increase the ratio of its operating
expenses to its income and net assets and thereby decrease the Fund's net
income available for dividends.

If the Fund were to experience substantial redemptions of its shares
following its conversion to an open-end fund, it would likely be required to
sell portfolio securities and incur increased transaction costs in order to
raise cash to meet such redemptions. Also, unless the Fund were able to
develop an effective distribution system for the sale of its shares, the Fund
may be faced with a possible need to liquidate because the Fund could become
too small. Any sale of portfolio securities effected to fund redemption
obligations would be a taxable transaction. Neither the Fund nor its
stockholders will realize any gain or loss for tax purposes as a direct result
of the Fund's conversion. However, the stockholders will recognize a gain or
loss if they later redeem their shares to the extent that the redemption
proceeds are greater of less than the respective adjusted tax basis of their
shares. (See "Capital Gains" below.)

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT. As noted above, a closed-end fund operates with a
relatively fixed capitalization, while the capitalization of an open-end fund
fluctuates depending upon whether it experiences net sales or net redemptions
of its shares. Most open-end funds maintain reserves of cash or cash
equivalents in order to meet net redemptions as they arise. Because closed-end
funds do not have to meet redemptions, their level of cash reserves depends
primarily on the investment manager's perception of market conditions and on
decisions to use fund assets to repurchase shares. The larger reserves of cash
or cash equivalents required to operate prudently as an open-end fund when net
redemptions are anticipated could reduce the Fund's investment flexibility and
the scope of its investment opportunities. As an open-end fund, the Fund may
have to sell portfolio securities in order to accommodate the need for larger
reserves of cash or cash equivalents, and such sales may be expected to occur
under unfavorable market conditions. While the Fund is a closed-end fund,
however, neither of the Fund's investment advisers are required to liquidate
portfolio holdings at inopportune times, and can manage the Fund's portfolio
with a greater emphasis on long-term considerations.

CAPITAL GAINS. The treatment of capital gains required under U.S. tax law
could be very onerous to non-redeeming stockholder in the event of the Fund's
conversion to an open-end fund. To raise cash to satisfy redeeming
stockholders, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities to satisfy
redemption requests. If the Fund's basis in the portfolio securities sold is
less than the sale price obtained, net capital gain may be realized. U.S. tax
law imposes both an income tax and an excise tax on net capital gain realized
by closed-end and open-end funds unless the fund distributes net capital gain
to all stockholders, in which case the stockholders would be subject to tax on
such gain. In the event of the Fund's conversion to an open-end fund, two
negative results may occur: first, because the Fund would sell securities,
non-redeeming stockholders would recognize a greater amount of capital gain
than would be the case if the Fund held such securities; and, second, to make
the capital gains distribution necessary to avoid capital gain recognition by
the Fund, the Fund may need to sell additional portfolio securities, thereby
reducing further the size of the Fund and, possibly, creating additional
capital gain.

DISTRIBUTION COSTS. Open-end funds typically provide more service to
stockholders and incur correspondingly higher servicing expenses. For example,
if the Fund converts to open-end status, it will need to have an effective
distribution system in place in order to avoid erosion in its asset base
through redemption. The distribution and marketing of open-end funds involve
additional costs. These costs may be paid either by purchasers (in the case of
a front-end sales charge) or by current stockholders (in the case of a plan of
distribution adopted under Rule 12b-1 (a "12b-1 Plan"), which would require
approval by stockholders). Implementation of a 12b-1 Plan would provide for
payments by the Fund at an annual rate ranging from 0.25% to 1.00 of the
Fund's average net assets. Redemption fees and contingent deferred sales
charges may also be employed.

DELISTING OF THE FUND. The Fund's shares currently are listed and traded on
the NYSE (Symbol: CHN). If the Fund converts to an open-end fund, its shares
would immediately be delisted from the NYSE. Delisting would save the Fund the
annual exchange listing fees of approximately $35,000; but, the Fund would
have to pay Federal and State registration fees on sales of new shares. Any
net savings or increased cost to the Fund because of the different expenses is
not expected to materially affect the Fund's expense ratio.

CONVERSION COSTS. The process of converting the Fund to an open-end
investment company would involve legal and other expenses to the Fund,
estimated to be approximately [US$300,000]. Based on the Fund's total net
assets as of [April 30, 2001] and its expenses for the first six months of
fiscal year 2001 on an annualized basis, it currently is anticipated that
conversion costs would increase the Fund's expense ratio by approximately [ %]
in the year of conversion.

Conclusion

For all the foregoing reasons, the Board of Directors strongly believes
that, notwithstanding the benefit which those stockholders who would wish to
redeem their shares over the short term would derive from open-ending the
Fund, on balance the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders would be
substantially disserved by such action. The Board of Directors does not
believe that the Fund could operate in open-end form in a manner consistent
with the reasonable expectations, or more broadly, the best interests of its
stockholders.

The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that you vote "against" the
proposal that the Stockholders recommend to the Board of Directors that the
Board consider open-ending the Fund.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

Set forth below is information with respect to persons who, to the knowledge
of the management of the Fund, owned beneficially more than 5% of the Fund's
outstanding shares as of [April 30, 2001]. The information is based on
publicly available Schedule 13D and 13G disclosures filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

Title or Name and Address of Amount and Nature of Percent
Class Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership of Class
-------- ---------------------------- ------------------------ --------

Common Stock President and Fellows of Has sole power to vote 15.3%
Harvard College c/o Harvard and dispose of 1,537,201
Management Company, Inc. 600 shares.
Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA
02210

MISCELLANEOUS

Proxies will be solicited by mail and may be solicited in person or by
telephone or telegraph, by officers of the Fund or personnel of the
Administrator. The Fund has retained Corporate Investor Communications, Inc.
to assist in the proxy solicitation. The cost of their services is estimated
at US$4,500. The expenses connected with the solicitation of proxies including
proxies solicited by the Fund's officers or agents in person, by telephone or
by telegraph will be borne by the Fund. The Fund will reimburse banks,
brokers, and other persons holding the Fund's shares registered in their names
or in the names of their nominees for their expenses incurred in sending proxy
material to and obtaining proxies from the beneficial owners of such shares.

In the event that sufficient votes in favor of any proposal set forth in the
Notice of this meeting are not received by June 15, 2001, the persons named as
attorneys in the enclosed proxy may propose one or more adjournments of the
meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will
require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
present in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting to be adjourned.
The persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy will vote in favor of such
adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the
proposal for which further solicitation of proxies is to be made. They will
vote against any such adjournment those proxies required to be voted against
such proposal. The costs of any such additional solicitation and of any
adjourned session will be borne by the Fund.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Any proposal by a stockholder of the Fund intended to be presented at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held in [March] 2002 must be
received by the Fund, c/o State Street

Bank and Trust, not later than [October , 2001] in order to be included in
the Fund's proxy statement and proxy card related to that meeting and
presented at the meeting.

A stockholder who wishes to make a proposal at the [March 2002] Annual
Meeting of Stockholders without including the proposal in the Fund's proxy
statement must notify the Fund, at the Fund's offices, of such proposal before
[January , 2002] and after [December , 2001]. If a stockholder fails to give
notice by this date, then the persons named as proxies in the proxies
solicited by the Board of Directors of the Fund for the [March 2002] Annual
Meeting of Stockholders may exercise discretionary voting power with respect
to any such proposal.

By order of the Board of Directors,

[LOGO TO COME]
[LOGO TO COME]

Thomas R. Callahan
Secretary

[ ]
[ ]
May , 2001

Exhibit A
The China Fund, Inc.

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

Objectives:

I. The Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Fund has established a
committee of certain independent directors (the "Audit Committee"). The
objectives of the Audit Committee are:

(a) to oversee the Fund's accounting and financial reporting policies and
practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls
of certain service providers;

(b) to oversee the quality and objectivity of the Fund's financial statements
and the independent audit thereof; and

II. The function of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is management's
responsibility to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal
control, and the auditor's responsibility to plan and carry out a proper audit.

Responsibilities:

I. To carry out its objectives, the Audit Committee shall have the following
responsibilities:

(a) to recommend the selection, retention or termination of independent
auditors and, in connection therewith, to evaluate the independence of the
auditors, including whether the auditors provide any consulting services to
the investment manager(s), and to receive the auditors' specific
representations as to their independence;

(b) To meet with Fund's independent auditors, including private meetings, as
necessary, (i) to review the arrangements for and scope of the annual audit
and any special audits; (ii) to discuss any matters of concern relating to
the Fund's financial statements, including any adjustments to such
statements recommended by the auditors, or other results of said audit(s);
(iii) to consider the auditors' comments with respect to the Fund's
financial policies, procedures and internal accounting controls and
management's responses thereto; and (iv) to review the form of opinion the
auditors render to the Board and shareholders;

(c) to review significant current financial reporting issues and practices with
management and auditors and to consider the effect upon the Fund of any
changes in accounting principles or practices proposed by management or the
auditors;

(d) to review the fees charged by the auditors for audit and non-audit
services;

(e) to investigate improprieties or suspected improprieties in fund operations;

(f) to review the Fund's process for monitoring compliance with investment
restrictions and applicable laws and regulations and with the code of
ethics;

(g) to report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and to made
such recommendations with respect to the above and other matters as the
Audit Committee may deem necessary or appropriate; and

(h) to review this Charter and recommend any changes to the full Board.

II. The Audit Committee shall meet on a regular basis and is empowered to hold
special meetings as circumstances require. The Audit Committee shall regularly
meet with the Treasurer of the Fund and with representatives of the management
company and other service providers responsible for financial reporting and
controls.

III. The Audit Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to
discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to retain special
counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Fund.

Exhibit B

Form of New Investment Advisory and Management Agreement
[To Come]

Exhibit C

Form of Direct Investment Management Agreement
[To Come]

THE CHINA FUND, INC.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Annual Meeting of Stockholders--June 15, 2001

The undersigned stockholder of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") hereby appoints
Thomas R. Callahan and Glenn Francis, or either of them, proxies of the
undersigned, with full power of substitution to vote and to act for and in the
name and stead of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Fund, to be held at the offices of Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP,
Conference Room L, 53rd Floor, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166 at
10:00 a.m., local time, and at any and all adjournments thereof, according to
the number of votes the undersigned would be entitled to cast if personally
present.

The shares represented by this proxy will be voted in accordance with
instructions given by the stockholders, but if no instructions are given, this
proxy will be voted in favor of proposals 1, 2 and 3, and against proposal 4, as
set forth in this proxy. In addition, this proxy will be voted, in the
discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournments thereof. The undersigned hereby revokes any and
all proxies with respect to such shares heretofore given by the undersigned. The
undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Proxy Statement dated May __, 2001.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign this proxy exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the books of the
Fund. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries
should indicate the capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name
appears, a majority must sign. If a corporation, the signature should be that of
an authorized officer who should state his or her title.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

--------------------------------- --------------------------------

PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE

----------------------------------------------------

THE CHINA FUND, INC. 1. To elect a Class I Director to For all With- For All
serve a term expiring on the date Nominees hold Except
---------------------------------------------------- on which the annual meeting is [ ] [ ] [ ]
held in 2003 to elect
two Class II Directors to serve a
term expiring on the date on which
the annual meeting is held in 2004.

Class I
James J. Lightburn

Class II
Michael F. Holland
Burton Levin

CONTROL NUMBER: If you do not wish your shares voted "For" a particular
RECORD DATE SHARES: nominee, mark the "For All Except" box and strike a line
through that particular nominee's name. Your shares will be
voted for the remaining nominee(s).

For Against Abstain
2. To approve a new Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement [ ] [ ] [ ]
between the Fund and Martin Currie
Global Investors, Ltd.

For Against Abstain
3. To approve a new Direct Investment
Management Agreement between the [ ] [ ] [ ]
Fund and Asian Direct Capital
Management.

For Against Abstain
4. To approve a proposal that the
stockholders recommend to the [ ] [ ] [ ]
Board of Directors that the Board
consider open-ending the Fund.

Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy. Date Mark box at right if an address change or comment has
----------------------------------------------------------- been noted on the reverse side of this card. [ ]

-----------------------------------------------------------
Stockholder sign here Co-owner sign here

DETACH CARD DETACH CARD

THE CHINA FUND, INC.

Dear Stockholder,

Please take note of the important information enclosed with this Proxy
Card. There are a number of issues related to the management and operations
of your Fund that require your immediate attention and approval. These are
discussed in detail in the enclosed proxy materials.

Your vote counts, and you are strongly encouraged to exercise your right to
vote your stock.

Please mark the boxes on this proxy card to indicate how your stock will be
voted. Then sign the card, detach it and return it in the enclosed postage
paid envelope.

Your vote must be received prior to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
which is scheduled to be held on June 15, 2001.

Thank you in advance for your prompt consideration of these matters.

Sincerely,

The China Fund, Inc.