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b) Raymond Tai
5. As Mr Davies had warned me, Mr Simmons raised the problem of our inability to invite Mr Tai to the Lancaster House reception. But I had spoken to him in advance, and when he addressed the Group he showed some understanding of the political constraints. Mr Love replied well, explaining that Mr Needham had agreed to give separate entertainment to Mr Tai. I backed him up.
c) Visas for Vietnamese
6. A member of the Group (Mr Hills) reported on a mission to Vietnam. The mission was guardedly optimistic about the longer-term prospects for trade with Vietnam. But he said that the mission's Vietnamese interlocutors had been very critical of the length of time which it took to issue visas for Vietnamese officials travelling to the UK and Hong Kong. A Vietnamese Minister had claimed that he had set off on a major European tour with every visa in his passport except the British one: this had caught up with him, after much delay, in Paris.
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7. A number of businessmen round the table said that they had heard similar complaints. When my turn came to speak I said I had taken careful note of the point and would look into it. should be most grateful if SEAD could let me know what can be said (with an input from HKD on Hong Kong visas). I owe the Group a reply at the next meeting in mid-September.
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