In 1986, 307 attempted suicide cases were presented to a regional general hospital in Hong Kong. Compared with attempts in Hong Kong in 1954 & those in Western countries, suicide attempts in Hong Kong in 1986, for example, were significantly more likely to precipitated by interpersonal conflicts rather than by economic stress. Attempters in Hong Kong are more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic or as paranoid psychotics than those in Western countries. (CM)