Coroners’ statistics indicated there were 684 suicides for ong Kong in 1981, a crude suicide rate of 18.1 per 100,000 population aged 15 & over. Demographic factors indicated a similarity between suicides in Hong Kong & western cultures. Psychiatric illness & chronic physical disability were the 2 most important precipitating causes of suicide (39.8% & 35.7%). Twenty percent had made previous attempts; 40% had communicated their intent to others; 19% had left notes. 13 ref(NBB)