December 15, 200817 yr The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: _____ New British Honorary Consulate Opens in Pattaya His Excellency Quentin Quayle, the British Ambassador to Thailand, officially opened a permanent office for the Honorary Consul on Monday morning in a brief ceremony in Soi 5 Jomtien. Mr. Barry Kenyon, who has acted as the honorary consul in Pattaya for a number of years, said the demand for consular services has increased dramatically in recent times and the British government decided to allocate funds for a permanent presence in the city. Previously, Barry Kenyon and his Thai assistants could be found conducting their business from a table in a coffee shop near the Immigration offices. Mr Kenyon said he is not expecting to suffer much in the way of caffeine withdrawal as the coffee shop does takeaways. The honorary consulate is situated next to the Pattaya Immigration Offices and will be open from 9:00am until 11:30am from Monday to Friday, except public holidays.
December 15, 200817 yr Doubt an office will help the service, or more accurately the lack of it, that the British Embassy attempts to provide in Pattaya. The only time I needed to consult Barry Kenyon and ask for his help and advice in an emergency he was about as much use as a fart in a gale force wind!
December 15, 200817 yr These Embassies are full of high ranking civil servants and ex politicians who have awarded each other lucrative postings for being part of the old boy network for many a year. I agree with buaseng here, these people see enquiries as an impingement on their elevenses and will do the absolute minimum amount of work in "trying to help" in most situations.
December 16, 200817 yr When the US Embassy sends a contingency to Pattaya periodically they provide a great service and it saves many trips to BKK. I don't know what the UK office here will do.
December 16, 200817 yr these people see enquiries as an impingement on their elevenses I haven't heard the word 'elevenses' used for decades. Takes me back to the days of Auntie BBC and surely one of the most patronising of all radio programmes: "Workers' Playtime"!
December 16, 200817 yr Author I haven't heard the word 'elevenses' used for decades. Well, don't look upon it with contumely.
December 16, 200817 yr These Embassies are full of high ranking civil servants and ex politicians who have awarded each other lucrative postings for being part of the old boy network for many a year. I agree with buaseng here, these people see enquiries as an impingement on their elevenses and will do the absolute minimum amount of work in "trying to help" in most situations. It is my understanding that the "Honorary" Consul is reimbursed for expenses, but not compensated. I think that many UK Expats are appreciative that certain services can be provided locally here in Pattaya (something we Americans don't have - although as mentioned, the US Embassy does make periodic visits and can provide some services). It is also my understanding that both the UK and American Consular officials are limited on what services they can provide to assist their countrymen in emergency situations (financial assistance and getting one out of a Thai jail are two service they do not provide).
December 16, 200817 yr Well, don't look upon it with contumely. Not at all. I rather like the term. But I loathed the radio programme.
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