SOUTH VIETNAMESE VICE-PRESIDENT NGUYEN CAO KY, SPECIAL ADVISOR TO HIS COUNTRY'S DELEGATION AT THE PARIS PEACE TALKS, TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) ATTENDED A RECEPTION GIVEN IN HIS HONOUR AT A PARIS HOTEL. VICE-PRESIDENT KY SAD HE HAD NO DEADLINE IN MIND FOR WAITING FOR THE TALKS TO BEGIN.

THE HEAD OF THE SAIGON DELEGATION TO THE PEACE TALKS, PHAM DANG LAM, ORGANISED THE RECEPTION WHICH WAS HELD AT THE BRISTOL HOTEL.

THE UNITED STATES CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, MR. AVERELL HARRIMAN, ATTENDED THE RECEPTION. VICE PRESIDENT KY AND MR. PHAM DANG LAM WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR WIVES.

VICE-PRESIDENT KY SAID YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE AMERICANS AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE WERE STILL AWAITING A FAVOURABLE REPLY FROM THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TO ALLIED PROPOSALS BEFORE THEY WENT AHEAD WITH ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ENLARGED PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE TALKS, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY DUE TO OPEN ON NOVEMBER 6, HAVE BEEN DELAYED BY DISPUTES OVER THE SHAPE OF THE CONFERENCE TABLE AND OTHER PROCEDURAL MATTERS.