A retrospective study was performed to compare the Filipino immigrant and the local Chinese patients seen in the Queen Mary Hospital of Hong Kong, who had attempted suicide or self-mutilated in a twelve month period from 1990 to 1991. Although the rate of deliberate self harm of the Filipinos was found to be higher, other figures did not show that the Filipino patients had less favourable social or psychiatric backgrounds. The kind of management they needed was also not significantly different. The data suggest that the major cause of their problems was the adjustment to immigration and that special social services for this immigration group is likely to be helpful.