PRE 14A 1 v300959_pre14a.htm PRE 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant | þ
Filed by a party other than the Registrant | o

Check the appropriate box:

þ Preliminary Proxy Statement

o Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

o Definitive Proxy Statement

o Definitive Additional Materials

o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

THE CHINA FUND, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

| þ | No fee required.

| o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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| o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
| o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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THE CHINA FUND, INC.

c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company

P.O. Box 5049, 2 Avenue de Lafayette

Boston, Massachusetts 02206-5049

February [6], 2012

Dear Stockholders:

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of The China Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) will be held at 10:30 A.M., Eastern Time, on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at the offices of Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019. A Notice and Proxy Statement regarding the Meeting, proxy card for your vote, and postage prepaid envelope in which to return your proxy card are enclosed.

The matters on which you, as a stockholder of the Fund, are being asked to vote are: 1) the election of two (2) Fund directors; and 2) the approval of the proposed Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and the proposed Direct Investment Management Agreement (the “Proposed Agreements”) between the Fund and RCM Asia Pacific Limited. The Board of Directors recommends that you elect to the Board the nominees who are standing for election and approve the Proposed Agreements.

Respectfully,

Tracie A. Coop

Secretary

STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE, BY INTERNET OR BY SIGNING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE TO ENSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING.

THE CHINA FUND, INC.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

March 8, 2012

To the Stockholders of

The China Fund, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of The China Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) will be held at the offices of Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 10:30 A.M., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

| 1. | To elect two Class I directors to serve for a term expiring on the date on which the annual meeting of stockholders is held in 2015;

| 2. | To approve the proposed Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and the proposed Direct Investment Management Agreement (the “Proposed Agreements”) between the Fund and RCM Asia Pacific Limited; and

| 3. | 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 January 23, 2012 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 vote by telephone, by Internet or by completing, dating and signing the enclosed form of proxy card and returning 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.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE MEETING ON MARCH 8, 2012: This Notice and the Proxy Statement are available on the Internet at www.edocumentview.com/CHN.

By order of the Board of Directors,

Tracie A. Coop

Secretary

February [6], 2012

THE CHINA FUND, INC.

c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company

P.O. Box 5049, 2 Avenue de Lafayette

Boston, Massachusetts 02206-5049

_______________

PROXY STATEMENT

_______________

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 (the “Meeting”), to be held at the offices of Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 10:30 A.M., Eastern Time, and at any adjournments thereof.

This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy card are being mailed to stockholders on or about February [6], 2012. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it by executing a superseding proxy by phone, Internet or mail following the process described on the proxy card or by submitting a notice of revocation to the Fund or in person at the Meeting. 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 the election of the directors described in Proposal 1 of this Proxy Statement and for the approval of the Proposed Agreements described in Proposal 2.

For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for transacting business at the Meeting, executed proxies returned without marking a vote on Proposals 1 and 2 will be treated as shares that are present for quorum purposes. Abstentions are included in the determination of the number of shares present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. If a stockholder is present in person or by proxy at the Meeting but does not cast a vote, the stockholder’s shares will count towards a quorum but will have no effect on Proposal 1 and will have the effect of a vote to disapprove Proposal 2.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 23, 2012 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 22,781,762 shares of common stock.

Management of the Fund knows of no item of business other than those mentioned in Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 of the Notice of Meeting that 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, 2011 to any stockholder requesting such report. Requests for the annual report should be made by writing to The China Fund, Inc., c/o The Altman Group, Inc., 1200 Wall Street West, 3rd Fl, Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071, Attention: Tanya Holland, by accessing the Fund’s website at www.chinafundinc.com or by calling (800) 249-7105.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The proxy statement discusses important matters affecting the Fund. Please take the time to read the proxy statement, and then cast your vote. You may obtain additional copies of the Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and form of proxy card by calling 1-800-249-7105 or by accessing www.edocumentview.com/CHN. There are multiple ways to vote. Choose the method that is most convenient for you. To vote by telephone or Internet, follow the instructions provided on the proxy card. To vote by mail simply fill out the proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid reply envelope. Please do not return your proxy card if you vote by telephone or Internet. To vote in person, attend the Meeting and cast your vote. The Meeting will be held at the offices of Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019. To obtain directions to the Meeting, go to: www.cliffordchance.com, click on About Us and select Find People & Offices. Next, select New York from the drop down menu for office. Click on View Office Details. Finally, click on View Map to see a map of the location. You may also obtain directions by calling 1-212-878-8000.

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Fund’s By-Laws provide that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The terms of office of the present directors (each a “Director”) in each class expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the year indicated or thereafter in each case when their respective successors are elected and qualified: Class I, 2012, Class II, 2013, and Class III, 2014. At each subsequent annual election, Directors chosen to succeed those whose terms are expiring will be identified as being in the same class and will be elected for a three-year term. The effect of these staggered terms is to limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund by delaying the replacement of a majority of the Board.

The terms of Messrs. James J. Lightburn and Joe O. Rogers will expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The persons named in the accompanying form of proxy card intend, in the absence of contrary instructions, to vote all proxies for the elections of Messrs. Lightburn and Rogers to serve for a term expiring on the date on which the Annual Meeting of Stockholders is held in 2015, or until their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees have indicated that they will serve if elected. If a nominee should be unable to serve, an event not now anticipated, the proxies will be voted for such person, if any, as is designated by the Board to replace the nominee. The election of a Director will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting. Presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of a stockholder who does not cast a vote will have no effect on the outcome of the election.

Information Concerning the Nominees and Members of the Board of Directors

The following table provides information concerning the nominees and other members of the Board of Directors of the Fund each of whom is not an “interested person” of the Fund, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and therefore is deemed to be “independent.” The terms of the Class II and Class III Directors do not expire this year.

Name (Age) and Address of Directors or Nominees for Director | Position(s) Held with Fund | Director Since (Term Ends) | Principal Occupation(s) or Employment During Past Five Years | Number of Funds in the Complex (1) Overseen by the Director or Nominee | Other Directorships/ Trusteeships in Publicly Held Companies
CLASS I (Nominees) |  |  |  |  |
James J. Lightburn (68) 13, Rue Alphonse de Neuville 75017 Paris, France | Director | 1992 (2012) | [Retired; Attorney, Nomos (law firm) (2004-2006); Attorney, member of Hughes Hubbard & Reed (law firm) (1993-2004).] | 1 | [Fromageries Bel S.A.]

Joe O. Rogers (63) 2477 Foxwood Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27514 | Director | 1992 (2012) | [Principal, Rogers International LLC (investment consultation)(July 2001-present); Visiting Professor Fudan University School of Management (August 2010 – 2011).] | 1 | [The Taiwan Fund, Inc. (1986-present)]
CLASS II |  |  |  |  |
Michael F. Holland (67) 375 Park Avenue New York, New York 10152 | Director | 1992 (2013) | [Chairman, Holland & Company L.L.C. (investment adviser) (1995-present).] | 1 | [The Holland Balanced Fund, Inc.; Reaves Utility Income Fund; The Taiwan Fund, Inc.; State Street Master Funds and State Street Institutional Investment Trust; Blackstone GSO Floating Rate Fund, Inc.]
CLASS III |  |  |  |  |
William C. Kirby (61) Harvard University CGIS South Building 1730 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02138 | Director | 2007 (2014) | [Director, John K. Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University (2006-present); Chairman, Harvard China Fund (2006-present); Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor (2006-present); Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Harvard University (2002-2006).] | 1 |
Nigel S. Tulloch (66) 7 Circe Circle Dalkeith WA6009 Australia | Director | 1992 (2014) | [Director, The HSBC China Fund Limited (1992-2005).] | 1 |

| (1) | The term “Fund Complex” means two or more registered investment companies that share the same investment adviser or principal underwriter or hold themselves out to investors as related companies for the purposes of investment and investor services.

Leadership Structure and Board of Directors

The Board has general oversight responsibility with respect to the business and affairs of the Fund. The Board is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, other applicable laws and the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation. The Board is composed of five Independent Directors and one of the Independent Directors serves as Chairman of the Board. Generally, the Board acts by majority vote of all of the Directors, including a majority vote of the Independent Directors if required by applicable law. The Fund’s day-to-day operations are managed by the Investment Manager and other service providers who have been approved by the Board. The Board meets periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund’s activities, review contractual arrangements with service providers, oversee compliance with regulatory requirements and review performance. The Board has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate given the size of the Board, the extensive experience of each Director with the Fund and nature of the Fund.

The Directors were selected to serve and continue on the Board based upon their skills, experience, judgment, analytical ability, diligence, ability to work effectively with other Directors and a commitment to the interests of stockholders and, a demonstrated willingness to take an independent and questioning view of management. Each Director currently also has considerable familiarity with the Fund and the Administrator, and their operations, as well as the special regulatory requirements governing regulated investment companies and the special responsibilities of investment company directors as a result of his or her substantial prior service as a Director of the Fund and, in several cases, as a director of other investment companies. In addition to those qualifications, the following is a brief summary of the specific experience, qualifications or skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this proxy statement, that each person identified below should serve as a Director for the Fund. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of the Directors are pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and do not constitute a holding out of the Board or any Director as having any special expertise and should not be considered to impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof. As required by rules the SEC has adopted under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s Independent Directors select and nominate all candidates for Independent Director positions.

[James J. Lightburn: Mr. Lightburn has served as a Director of the Fund since the Fund’s inception in 1992. He is a U.S. trained attorney who practiced law in the United States for over 20 years and then in Paris, France for over 15 years. Mr. Lightburn has represented clients in international business transactions including the acquisition and sale of businesses in the United States and Europe, structuring and negotiation of commercial collaboration, intellectual property and equity and quasi-equity financing agreements. He has published articles on international financial law and related regulations. Mr. Lightburn has also served on the boards of other privately held and listed companies.

Joe O. Rogers: Mr. Rogers has served as a Director of the Fund since the Fund’s inception in 1992. He has provided business and investment consulting services for over 30 years. Mr. Roger’s experience includes service as the president, vice president or partner in business and investment consulting firms including Rogers International LLC, PHH Asia Corporation and PHH Fantus Consulting. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank under President Ronald Regan. Mr. Rogers also served the U.S. House of Representatives in various capacities including Executive Director and International Relations Counselor of the Republican Conference and served as the chief economist and budget advisor to Senator William Armstrong. He has lectured on economics and finance at various U.S. based and internationally based universities and served as a Visiting Professor of Finance at Fudan University in Shanghai from 2010 to 2011. Mr. Rogers also serves on the board of another listed company.

Michael F. Holland: Mr. Holland has served as a Director of the Fund since the Fund’s inception in 1992. He has worked in the investment management industry for over 40 years. Mr. Holland’s experience includes service as the Chairman of Holland & Company, which he founded in 1995, and as the chief executive officer, chairman or vice chairman of major U.S. asset management firms including Salomon Brothers Asset Management, First Boston Asset Management and Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. He is a regular guest on several financial television programs and is regularly quoted in leading financial publications. Mr. Holland also serves on the boards of other charitable and listed companies.

William C. Kirby: Mr. Kirby has served as a Director of the Fund since 2007. He is T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies at Harvard University and Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Mr. Kirby is a historian of modern China, whose work examines China’s business, economic and political development in an international context. He has served the academic community for over 30 years. Mr. Kirby joined Harvard University in 1992, where he currently serves various positions including Chairman of the Harvard China Fund and Director of the John K. Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. He has also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Chair of the Council on East Asian Studies and the Director of the National Resource Center for East Asia for Harvard University. Prior to joining Harvard University, Mr. Kirby served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Director of Asian Studies and Director of International Affairs at Washington University. Mr. Kirby has published numerous books and articles related to Chinese business and history.

Nigel S. Tulloch: Mr. Tulloch has served as a Director of the Fund since the Fund’s inception in 1992. He has worked in the investment management industry for over 40 years. Mr. Tulloch’s experience includes service as a director and chief executive officer of Wardley Investment Services Limited, now HSBC Asset Management, a major international asset manager. He also served as Chairman of The Hong Kong Unit Trust Association and was appointed to the Council of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Mr. Tulloch also serves on the boards of other charitable and privately held companies.]

The Fund’s Board has an Audit Committee, which is responsible for reviewing financial and accounting matters. The Fund’s Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Directors, all of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, and its actions are governed by the Fund’s written Audit Committee Charter. The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Holland, Kirby, Lightburn, Rogers and Tulloch. All members of the Audit Committee are independent as independence is defined in the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.’s listing standards, as may be modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). The Audit Committee met five times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. The Audit Committee has a charter which is available on the Fund’s website (www.chinafundinc.com).

The Fund’s Board has a Nominating and Compensation Committee, comprised of the current members of the Audit Committee, which is responsible for nominating candidates to fill any vacancies on the Board. All of the members of the Nominating Committee are independent as independence is defined in the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.’s listing standards, as may be modified or supplemented and are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act). Currently, the Nominating and Compensation Committee does not consider nominees recommended by stockholders. The Nominating and Compensation Committee believes that it is not necessary to have such a policy because the Board consists entirely of Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act). The Nominating and Compensation Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualifications for Board membership and the candidate’s independence from the Fund’s investment manager and other principal service providers. The Nominating and Compensation Committee does not have specific minimum qualifications that must be met by candidates recommended by the Nominating and Compensation Committee and there is not a specific process for identifying such candidates. In nominating candidates, the Nominating and Compensation Committee takes into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate. These factors may include judgment, skill, diversity, experience with businesses or other organizations of comparable size, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of other Board members, requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC to maintain a minimum number of independent or non-interested directors, requirements of the SEC as to disclosure regarding persons with financial expertise on the Fund’s audit committee and the extent to which the candidate generally would be a desirable addition to the Board and any committees of the Board. The Committee believes the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy in this regard. The Nominating and Compensation Committee met once during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. The Nominating and Compensation Committee has a charter which is available on the Fund’s website (www.chinafundinc.com).

The Fund does not have a specified process for stockholders to send communications to the Board because stockholders are able to communicate directly with the Board at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Fund’s reports to stockholders disclose contact information which may be used to direct communications to the Board.

The Fund does not have a policy regarding Board member’s attendance at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, each of the five Directors attended the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Fund’s Board of Directors held four regular meetings and seven special meetings during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. Each Director attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of any committee on which he served.

Risk Oversight

The day-to-day operations of the Fund, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Fund’s Investment Manager (currently Martin Currie, Inc.) and Administrator (State Street Bank and Trust Company). The Directors are responsible for overseeing the Fund’s service providers and thus have oversight responsibilities with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, stockholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. The Fund and its service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify certain of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur.

Not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Fund or the Investment Manager or other service providers. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve a Fund’s goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Fund’s ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.

Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. As part of its regular oversight of the Fund, the Board, directly or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, the Investment Manager, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer and the independent registered public accounting firm, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Fund. The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by the Investment Manager and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Fund’s Advisory Agreements, the Board meets with the Investment Manager to review the services provided. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Investment Manager’s adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who oversees the implementation and testing of the Fund’s compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and its service providers. The Board, with the assistance of the Investment Manager, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Fund’s performance. In addition, as part of the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may periodically consider risk management aspects of their operations and the functions for which they are responsible.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act requires the Fund’s officers and Directors, and beneficial owners of 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 (the “SEC”) 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, 2011. Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act extends the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act to the investment adviser or manager of the Fund and the officers and directors of such investment adviser or manager.

Officers of the Fund

The following table provides information concerning each of the officers of the Fund.

Name (Age) and Address of Officers | Position(s) Held with Fund | Officer Since | Principal Occupation(s) or Employment During Past Five Years
Jamie Skinner (50) Martin Currie Investment Management Saltire Court 20 Castle Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2ES Scotland United Kingdom | President | September 2009 | Director, Head of Client Services, Martin Currie Investment Management Limited (October 2004 – present); President, The Taiwan Fund, Inc. (2010-present); President, Martin Currie Business Trust (2010-present).

Name (Age) and Address of Officers | Position(s) Held with Fund | Officer Since | Principal Occupation(s) or Employment During Past Five Years
Patrick Keniston (47) Foreside Compliance Services, LLC Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101 | Chief Compliance Officer | August 2011 | Director, Foreside Compliance Services, LLC (October 2008 – present); Counsel, Citi Fund Services (March 2005 – October 2008).
Laura F. Dell (47) 4 Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116 | Treasurer | December 2008 | Vice President, State Street Bank and Trust Company (July 2007-present); Senior Director, Investors Bank and Trust Company (January 2002-July 2007).
Brian O’Sullivan (37) 801 Pennsylvania Ave Kansas City, MO 64105 | Assistant Treasurer | March 2009 | Vice President, State Street Bank and Trust Company (December 2006-present).
Tracie A. Coop (35) 4 Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116 | Secretary | June 2010 | Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (October 2007 – present); Associate Counsel and Manager, Natixis Asset Management Advisors L.P., (2006-2007).
Francine S. Hayes (44) 4 Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116 | Assistant Secretary | June 2005 | Vice President and Managing Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2004-present).

Ownership of Securities

The following table sets forth information regarding the ownership of securities in the Fund by Directors and nominees for Director as of January 31, 2012.

Name of Director or Nominee(1) | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Funds Overseen or to be Overseen by Director or Nominee in the Fund Complex (2)
James J. Lightburn | [$50,001-$100,000] | [$50,001-$100,000]
Joe O. Rogers | [Over $100,000] | [Over $100,000]
Michael F. Holland | [Over $100,000] | [Over $100,000]
Nigel S. Tulloch | [$10,001-$50,000] | [$10,001-$50,000]
William C. Kirby | [$50,001-$100,000] | [$50,001-$100,000]

| (1) | All are current Directors.

| (2) | The term “Fund Complex” means two or more registered investment companies that share the same investment adviser or principal underwriter or hold themselves out to investors as related companies for the purposes of investment and investor services. The Fund is the only fund in the Fund Complex overseen by the Directors.

Transactions with and Remuneration of Officers and Directors

The aggregate remuneration for Directors was US$427,950 during the year ended October 31, 2011 and, for that period, the aggregate amount of expenses reimbursed by the Fund for Directors’ attendance at directors’ meetings was US$109,709. Each Director currently receives fees, paid by the Fund, of US$3,000 for each directors’ meeting and committee meeting attended and an annual fee of either US$35,000 (for the Chairman of the Fund) or US$15,000 (for the other Directors) as well as US$2,000 for each telephonic meeting and US$2,000 for each semi-annual valuation meeting.

The following table sets forth in US dollars the aggregate compensation from the Fund paid to each Director during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. The Fund does not compensate the officers of the Fund.

Name of Director | Aggregate Compensation From Fund(1) | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses | Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement | Total Compensation From Fund and Fund Complex Paid To Directors(2)
Michael F. Holland | $78,746 | — | — | $78,746
William C. Kirby | $83,430 | — | — | $83,430
James J. Lightburn | $105,364 | — | — | $105,364
Joe O. Rogers | $75,616 | — | — | $75,616
Nigel S. Tulloch | $84,791 | — | — | $84,791

_________

| (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.

| (2) | There is one fund in the Fund Complex overseen by the Directors.

Stockholder Approval

Election of the listed nominees for Director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock of the Fund voted at the Annual Meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT THE

STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

PROPOSAL 2

APPROVAL OF PROPOSED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT

AGREEMENT AND PROPOSED DIRECT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

AGREEMENT

On January 5, 2012, the Board of Directors, all of whom are Independent Directors, voted to approve and recommend to shareholders the approval of the proposed Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and the proposed Direct Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and RCM Asia Pacific Limited (“RCM”) (the “Proposed Agreements”). [The Proposed Agreements, if approved, will replace the interim Investment Advisory and Management Agreement and Direct Investment Management Agreement, between the Fund and RCM (the “Current Agreements”) that the Fund anticipates entering into before the Meeting. The Current Agreements were not approved by the stockholders of the Fund. The Current Agreements replaced the interim Investment Advisory and Management Agreement dated November 9, 2011 between the Fund and Martin Currie, Inc. (“Martin Currie”), the interim Sub-Advisory Agreement between Martin Currie and APS Asset Management Pte Ltd (“APS”) dated November 10, 2011 and the Direct Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and Martin Currie dated April 14, 2007, (the “Martin Currie Direct Investment Management Agreement”).] The interim Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with Martin Currie and the interim Sub-Advisory Agreement between Martin Currie and APS replaced the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with Martin Currie dated March 19, 2004 (together with the Martin Currie Direct Investment Management Agreement, the “Prior Agreements”), which was terminated on November 9, 2011 upon Martin Currie’s delegation of management of the Fund’s portfolio to APS. The interim Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with Martin Currie and the interim Sub-Advisory Agreement between Martin Currie and APS were not approved by shareholders. The Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with Martin Currie dated March 19, 2004 was approved by shareholders on March 18, 2004 and the Direct Investment Management Agreement with Martin Currie was approved by shareholders on April 13, 2007.

The terms of the Proposed Agreements are substantially similar to the terms of Prior Agreements.

The Proposed Agreements provide for RCM to provide substantially the same investment advisory and management services as provided under the Prior Agreements, except that the proposed Direct Investment Management Agreement does not require RCM to make any new direct investments (an investment in an unlisted security) but rather to supervise the disposition of the Fund’s existing direct investments. Also, the fees to be paid to RCM under the proposed Direct Investment Management Agreement are lower than those paid to Martin Currie under the existing Direct Investment Management Agreement, as described below. RCM’s duties under the Proposed Agreements include making investment decisions, supervising the acquisition and disposition of investments and selecting brokers or dealers to execute these transactions in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and within the guidelines and directions established by the Fund’s Board of Directors.

Under both the Proposed Agreements and the Current Agreements, the Fund bears expenses for legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund; auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; New York Stock Exchange listing fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodian, sub-custodian, transfer agents and registrars; fees and expenses with respect to administration (except as may be expressly provided otherwise); expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; expenses of preparing share certificates and other expenses in connection with the issuance, offering and underwriting of shares issued by the Fund; expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for public sale; freight, insurance and other charges in connection with the shipment of the Fund’s portfolio securities; brokerage commissions or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; expenses of preparation and distribution of reports, notices and dividends to shareholders; expenses of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan; costs of stationery; any litigation expenses; and costs of stockholder’s and other meetings. Under the Proposed Agreements, as is the case under the Current Agreements, RCM bears all other expenses associated with the performance of its duties (including employee salaries and overhead) other than expenses to be paid by the Fund, as specifically provided above. RCM also would pay the salaries and expenses of such of the Fund’s officers and employees and any fees and expenses of such of the Fund’s directors who are managers, members, officers or employees of RCM or any of its affiliates, provided, however, that the Fund, and not RCM, shall bear travel expenses or an appropriate fraction thereof of directors and officers of the Fund who are managers, members, officers or employees of RCM to the extent that such expenses relate to attendance at meetings of the Board or any committee thereof, and provided, further, that such expenses are incurred in accordance with the Fund’s travel policy.

The Proposed Agreements may be terminated at any time, without payment of penalty RCM or by the Fund acting pursuant to a vote of the Board of Directors or by a vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) upon sixty (60) days’ written notice, and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) by RCM. The Proposed Agreements will also terminate automatically if RCM ceases to be licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.

If approved by stockholders, each of the Proposed Agreements would remain in effect for an initial period of two years from the date it becomes effective. Thereafter, the Proposed Agreements would continue in effect from year to year if their continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) a vote of a majority of the Independent Directors, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) either a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors as a whole or a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock as defined in the 1940 Act.

Fee Provisions of the Proposed Agreements

[Under the terms of the interim Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, RCM is entitled to receive fees for its services, computed weekly and payable monthly in US dollars, at the annual rate of 0.70% on the first $315 million in total net assets under management and 0.50% on total net assets under management over $315 million. Under the terms of interim Direct Investment Management Agreement, RCM is entitled to receive fees for its services, computed weekly and payable monthly in US dollars, at the annual rate of weekly and payable monthly, at the annual rate of 1.50% of the average weekly value of the Fund’s assets invested in the direct investments.] Under the terms of the Proposed Agreements, RCM is entitled to receive the same fee rate payable under the Current Agreements.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, the aggregate amount of advisory fees paid by the Fund was $4,984,986. Had the Proposed Agreements been in place for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, the fees paid by the Fund would have been $4,777,146.

No payments were made to RCM by the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

The Factors Considered by the Board of Directors Regarding the Proposed Agreements

The Board was asked to approve the Proposed Agreements with substantially the same terms and conditions as the Current Agreements, with the exception of the termination provision. The Current Agreements will expire within 150 days from the date of execution while the Proposed Agreements are legally required to be reviewed and re-approved by the Board once a year, after their initial two year terms. In being asked to approve the Proposed Agreements, the Board was assured by RCM that the Fund would continue to be managed in substantially the same manner under the Proposed Agreements as under the Current Agreements.

Approval Process

At its meeting on July 8, 2011, in anticipation of a change in the personnel at Martin Currie who were managing the Fund’s portfolio (the “Former Portfolio Managers”) the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”), all of whom are Independent Directors, determined that it would be appropriate for the Board to review the arrangements for the management of the Fund’s assets and consider engaging a different investment adviser for the Fund. At that time, the Board retained a consultant to assist the Board in identifying appropriate candidates to serve as investment adviser for the Fund and in preparing a request for proposal to be sent to the candidates. Initially, eight candidates were identified, based on the Board’s knowledge of candidates that had experience managing portfolios similiar to the Fund’s and advice from the consultant. The consultant then evaluated the eight candidates based on a number of factors and reported on its evaluation to the Board at the Board meeting on September 16, 2011. After reviewing the consultant’s report, the Board decided that three of those candidates (as well as Martin Currie and the investment management firm established by the Former Portfolio Managers (collectively, the Candidates”) should make a presentation at the December 8, 2011 meeting of the Board of Directors. In advance of that meeting, the Directors discussed the consultant’s evaluation of the Candidates that it had reported on. In addition, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer reviewed information regarding the compliance programs of each of the Candidates. Throughout the process, the Board and the Committee were advised by counsel.

The Board determined that it would be appropriate to enter into interim arrangements with Martin Currie and APS while the Board continued to consider permanent arrangements for the management of the Fund. At the Board meeting on October 31, 2011, the Board approved the interim Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with Martin Currie and the interim Sub-Advisory Agreement between Martin Currie and APS.

At the Board meeting on December 8, 2011, with all Directors present, each of the Candidates made a presentation to the Board and responded to questions from the Board. Following the presentations, the Board discussed the relative merits of each Candidate and determined that further information should be requested from the candidates. At the Board meeting held on January 5, 2012, the Board approved the selection of RCM as the investment adviser for the Fund, approved the Proposed Agreements and agreed to submit the selection of RCM for approval by the Fund's stockholders at the next annual stockholders meeting in March 2012.

In making this selection, the Board noted RCM’s experience in providing services to similar funds. The Board also noted that the advisory fee agreed to by RCM compared favorably with fees charged by advisers of other U.S. registered closed-end funds that invest in the China region. The Board also considered the terms and conditions of the Proposed Agreements and the nature, scope and quality of services that RCM is expected to provide to the Fund, including compliance services. The Board also based its decision on the following considerations, among others, although the Board did not identify any consideration that was all important or controlling, and each Director attributed different weights to the various factors.

Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services provided by the Adviser. The Board reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the investment management services to be provided by RCM under the Proposed Agreements. The Board also reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the non-investment management, administrative services to be provided by RCM under the Proposed Agreements. The Board determined that RCM appeared to be capable of providing the Fund with investment management and administrative services of above average quality.

Performance, Fees and Expenses of the Fund. The Board noted that RCM was not yet providing services to the Fund, therefore, that there were limitations on the Board’s ability to evaluate the performance of RCM in managing the Fund. Based, however, on the performance of RCM in managing other products, the Board concluded that there was reason to believe that RCM could achieve above average performance over the long term in managing the Fund. The Board also noted that other expenses of the Fund were not expected to increase as a result of the retention of RCM.

Economies of Scale. The Board considered the economy of scale benefits that the Fund’s stockholders would be afforded as the management fee rate under the Proposed Agreements declines as the Fund’s assets grow.

Other Benefits of the Relationship. The Board considered whether there were other benefits that RCM and its affiliates may derive from their relationship with the Fund and concluded that any such benefits were likely to be minimal.

Resources of the Proposed Investment Adviser. The Board considered whether RCM is financially sound and has the resources necessary to perform its obligations under the Proposed Agreements, noting that RCM appears to have the financial resources necessary to fulfill its obligations under the Proposed Agreements.

General Conclusions. After considering and weighing all of the above factors, the Board concluded that it would be in the best interest of the Fund and its stockholders to approve the Proposed Agreements. In reaching this conclusion, the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor referenced above.

Information About the Proposed Adviser

RCMAsia Pacific Limited (“RCM”), the proposed adviser, is a Hong Kong based Asia specialist manager with over $2.5 billion in assets under management in Greater China mandates. RCM is part of the Allianz Global Investors, which is wholly owned by the Allianz Group. Allianz Global Investors has over $350 billion in assets under management. RCM’s principal offices are located at 27th Floor, ICBC Tower, 3 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong.

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the principal executive officer and each of the directors of RCM.

Name/Address | Position Held with Proposed Adviser | Since | Principal Occupation or Employment
Andrew Douglas Eu | Chief Executive Officer and Director | 2011 | Chief Executive Officer, Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific (Since August 2006).
George Alan McKay | Director | 2012 | Chief Operating Officer, Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific (Since November 2006).
Chi Keung Raymond Chan | Chief Investment Officer and Director | 2006 | Chief Investment Officer, Asia Pacific and Asia Pacific Limited (Since September 1998).
Jovita Chow | Chief Compliance Officer | 2010 | Head of Compliance/Chief Compliance Officer, RCM Asia Pacific Limited (Since October 2010); Head of Compliance and Risk, Schroder Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited (Since 2006).

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the individual who is anticipated to serve as the Fund’s portfolio manager.

Name/Address | Position Held with Proposed Adviser | Since |
Sau Ha Christina Chung | Senior Portfolio Manager | 1998 |

Required Vote

The 1940 Act requires that an investment advisory contract between an investment company and an investment adviser be in writing, that such contact specify, among other things, the compensation payable to the adviser pursuant thereto and that such contracts be approved by the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock as defined in the 1940 Act and discussed below.

Approval of the Proposed Agreements will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock. As defined in the 1940 Act, a “majority of the outstanding shares” means the lesser of 67% of the voting securities present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, if a quorum is present, or 50% of the outstanding securities. For this purpose, both abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote to disapprove the Proposed Agreements. If this proposal is not approved by stockholders, the Fund will continue under the Current Agreements while the Board of Directors considers other steps.

Forms of the Proposed Agreements are attached as Appendix A.

The Board recommends that the sTOCKholders vote “FOR” the proposal to approve the PROPOSED AgreementS between the Fund and RCM.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Fund Administration

State Street Bank and Trust Company 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 State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, auditing and reporting on the annual financial statements of the Fund and reviewing certain regulatory reports and the Fund’s federal income tax returns. E&Y also performs other professional audit and certain allowable non-audit services, including tax services, when the Fund engages it to do so. Representatives of E&Y are not expected to be available at the meeting.

The engagement of E&Y as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and ratified by the full Board of Directors.

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by E&Y in connection with the annual audits of the Fund for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010 and 2011 were US$105,000 and US108,150. In addition, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, Martin Currie paid E&Y $215,000 on behalf of the Fund for professional services rendered for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders with regard to the Fund’s purchase of securities issued by Ugent Holdings Ltd.

Audit-Related Fees. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010 and 2011, E&Y did not bill the Fund any fees for assurances and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements and were not reported under the section Audit Fees above.

Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed by E&Y for professional services rendered by E&Y for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (consisting of a review of the Fund’s income tax returns and tax distribution requirements) for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010 and 2011 were US$10,000 and US$10,300.

All Other Fees. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010 and 2011, E&Y did not bill the Fund any fees for products and services other than those disclosed above.

Audit Committee Pre-approval. The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all auditing and non-auditing services to be provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. All of the audit and the tax services described above for which E&Y billed the Fund fees for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2010 and 2011 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Non-Audit Fees. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, Ernst & Young provided non-audit services to certain entities in the Fund’s Investment Company Complex that were not required to be pre-approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee. These services primarily include: (1) tax advisory amounts of $409,863, (2) tax compliance amounts of $723,886 and (3) other advisory fees of $59,796 related to performance improvement.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, Ernst & Young provided non-audit services to certain entities in the Fund’s Investment Company Complex that were not required to be pre-approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee. These services primarily include: (1) tax advisory amounts of $314,048, (2) tax compliance amounts of $831,240 and (3) other advisory fees of $58,221 related to performance improvement.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011 with management of the Fund and with E&Y, and has discussed with E&Y the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards), as may be modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter on auditor independence from E&Y required by Independence Standards Board No. 1 (Independence Standards Board No. 1, Independence Discussion with Audit Committees), as may be modified or supplemented, and has discussed with E&Y its independence. Based on the Audit Committee review and discussions referred to in the two preceding sentences, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011 be included in its annual report to stockholders and the Fund’s annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

James J. Lightburn – Audit Committee Chairman

Joe O. Rogers – Audit Committee Member

Michael F. Holland – Audit Committee Member

Nigel S. Tulloch – Audit Committee Member

William C. Kirby – Audit Committee Member

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

Set forth below is information with respect to persons who are registered as beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of January 23, 2012.

Title Of Class | Name and Address | Shares | Percent of Class
Common Stock | CEDE & CO FAST C/O Depository Trust Company Box 20 New York, NY 10004-9998 | 22,667,095 | 99.50%

The shares held by Cede & Co. include the accounts set forth below. This information is based on publicly available information such as Schedule 13D and 13G disclosures filed with the SEC or other similar regulatory filings from foreign jurisdictions.

Title Of Class | Name and Address | Shares | Percent of Class
Common Stock | Lazard Asset Management 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 | 2,983,525 | 13.10%
Common Stock | City of London 77 Gracechurch Street London EC3V OAS England | 2,406,695 | 10.56%

MISCELLANEOUS

Proxies will be solicited by mail and may be solicited in person or by telephone or facsimile or other electronic means, by officers of the Fund or personnel of the Administrator. The Fund has retained The Altman Group, Inc. to assist in the proxy solicitation. The total cost of proxy solicitation services, including legal and printing fees, is estimated at [$20,300], plus out-of-pocket expenses. The expenses connected with the solicitation of proxies including proxies solicited by the Fund’s officers or agents in person, by telephone or by facsimile or other electronic means 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 the proposal set forth in the Notice of this Meeting are not received by March 8, 2012, 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

In order to submit a stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement for the Fund’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholder proposals must be received by the Fund (addressed to The China Fund, Inc., c/o Secretary of the Fund/State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 5049, 2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, Massachusetts 02206-5049) not later than [October 9, 2012]. Any stockholder who desires to bring a proposal at the Fund’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders without including such proposal in the Fund’s Proxy Statement, must deliver written notice thereof to the Secretary of the Fund (addressed to The China Fund, Inc., c/o Secretary of the Fund / State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 5049, 2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, Massachusetts 02206-5049), not before [December 8, 2012] and not later than [January 7, 2013].

By order of the Board of Directors,

Tracie A. Coop

Secretary

The China Fund, Inc.

c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company

P.O. Box 5049

2 Avenue de Lafayette

Boston, Massachusetts 02206-5049

February [6], 2012

APPENDIX A

INSERT PROPOSED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
INSERT PROPOSED DIRECT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT