C
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a statement. I do not know whether or not they have attempted earlier illegal departures, and it would not be prudent for them to inform me of such attempts if they had.
16. Regarding paragraph 13 of the Statement, I have no personal knowledge of bribes my daughter may have paid in order to obtain a hawking license, and I did not tell Mr. Ho that Phuong was never harassed when assisting Chinh in her business. In fact, I told him that I had heard Phuong was always harassed. I have no recollection of discussing government policy regarding regulation of hawkers, licensing requirements or tax policy with Mr. Ho nor do I recall Son discussing such matters. I do not recall discussing my daughter's business situation and I did not say that the police have no right to interfere with a husband helping his wife. It is my understanding that the police may interfere whenever they so choose.
us report
in the Statim
GM.
I confirm that in 17. Regarding paragraph 14 of the Statement, response to a question, I told Mr. Ho that I understood that Phuong had many difficulties with the police before he departed Vietnam. I told him that I had heard he had these troubles because of his relationship with priests and because he was an ethnic Chinese whose loyalty the authorities regarded with suspicion. However, I have no personal knowledge of when, how many times or for what reasons he had these troubles as I was not residing in Hanoi at the time. I recall the interpreter asking very confusing questions about some Chinese friends of Phuong's. I do not recall telling him that Phuong was not arrested in March 1990 for housing 3 Chinese friends nor do I recall Son making such a statement. We were still in Ho Chi Minh City at that time. For the same reason, we could not confirm the reason for any arrests of Phuong in 1980-81 or at any other time before Phuong's departure to Hong Kong.
18. A few days after Mr. Ho's visit, his second interpreter whose name I believe to be Mr. Minh returned by himself to my home. This visit frightened me very much because I already suspected he had connections with the police or with the government. He told me in what I took to be a sarcastic tone that he would see that my daughter would receive "help". Shortly after his visit, 3 public security officers came to my home and interrogated us about what I know of Phuong and Chinh. They also warned us about talking to people from the British Embassy and wanted to know everything we said to Mr. Ho.
19. I am now frightened to ask Mr. Ho to help us if we have further trouble. I fear for our future. Because the police are now interested in Phuong and Chinh, I am very worried that they will have no peace if they come back to Vietnam. Phuong and Chinh are now nails sticking out. Vietnam puts on a friendly face for foreigners, but I am frightened of what may lie behind it. I wish to alert my daughter to the situation here and to tell her not to return to Vietnam, but I do not believe it is prudent to post such messages through the mail.