TNAG-0899-FCO40-1109-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 254

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(iii) Mr. A. Henstrom (Sweden) said the Swedish selectors had noted the large numbers of unaccompanied adolescents in the camps, feared that they might cause a residual problem. Sueden believed, however, that it as important to the extent possible to place these

Foster young people in a cultural environment favourable to them. parents not speaking the child's language could not offer the best care. Sueden envisaged accepting close relatives directly from Viet- Nam to facilitate family reunion of unaccompanied minors.

(iv) Mr. Philippe Chapatte (Switzerland) said Switzerland had accepted 150 unaccompanied minors, for whom there was no question of adoption until detailed enquiries could be carried out.

(v)

Ilr. J. Bröh Kahn (United States of America) said his Government was accepting unaccompanied minors ithin category 1 as long as they had no close relative, or no relative(s) in any resettlement country other than the USA. If the minors had relatives in the USA and another resettlement country, the USA "ould prefer that the third country accepted the refugee.

(vi) Mr. A.J.F. Simmance (UNHCR Representative

Indonesia) drew

the

attention of delegates to the fact that a high proportion of unaccom- panied minors were teenagers. He requested that selection of unaccom- panied minors for resettlement by voluntary agencies should be carried out only with the full knowledge of all parties concerned, to avoid the embarrassment of selecting minors who may be found subsequently to have relatives in other camps or third countries of resettlement.

13. The Handicapped

14.

(i) Mr. D. Hill (Canada) said that special arrangements were being made for the health care of the handicapped. TB cases would be cared for within the family unit.

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(ii) Mr. A. Wenstrom (Sweden) reported that a proportion of families with a handicapped member were included in every Swedish quota. (iii) Mr. Philippe Chapatte (Switzerland) reported on 'Switzerland's acceptance of handicapped Indo-Chinese refugees (see above). He stressed, however, that Swiss reception and integration possibilities

Switzerland was unable to for the handicapped were not unlimited. carry the burden alone, and hoped other countries would share it with them.

(iv) Mr. J. Bröh Kahn (United States of America) said that the USA was admitting handicapped refugees as long as the sponsors concerned undertook to do all in their power to prevent the refugee concerned becoming a charge to the State.

Local Settlement/Resettlement in the South-East Asia Region

In answer to a question from Hr. Opdahl, Norway, Mr. Cuénod (UNHCR) noted that local settlement/regional resettlement was regarded as a very important part of the Indo-China programme. Malaysia had recently accepted 700 Khmer of Moslem faith for resettlement, China had decided to admit 10.000 Indo-Chinese for resettlement and Hong Kong was permitting refugees

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