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COUNTRIES ORGANISE ORIENTATION AND LANGUAGE COURSES FOR REFUGEES RESETTLING IN THEM BEFORE DEPARTURE. THESE, HOWEVER, ARE ONLY SHORT COURSES AIMED AT PROVIDING THE REFUGEES WITH SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRY ACCEPTING THEM.
(3) UNACCOMPANIED MINORS USED TO BE A PROBLEM BUT WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF DEPARTURES TO RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES OVER THE PAST YEAR (MAINLY TO USA) THE CASELOAD HAS NOW BEEN REDUCED TO 128. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 94 DISABLED CASES (331 PERSONS INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS) IN HONG KONG OF WHICH 73 (263 PERSONS) ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, THE REMAINING 21 BEING EITHER ALREADY REJECTED OR NEW ARRIVALS. ALL EXCEPT A FEW OF THE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ARE IN CLOSED CENTRES: BECAUSE OF LACK OF TIME UNHCR ARE NOT YET ABLE TO TELL US HOW MANY OF THE DISABLED CASES ARE IN CLOSED CENTRES. AS THE UNHCR HAS A SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR DISABLED CASES (THE TEN-OR-MORE SCHEME) AND RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE FAIRLY SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, WE DO NOT SEE EITHER AS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM. WE ARE FOR EXAMPLE MUCH MORE CONCERNED AT THE DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING SINGLE YOUNG MEN RESETTLED.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
PS/MR. LUCE PS/PUS
MR. WILSON
COPIES TO'.
HKGO
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