Suicide numbers in Hong Kong havesoared to a three-year high as rising levels of debt due to theeconomic slowdown hit hard, a help group said.
Some 702 men and 213 women took their own lives in 2000outstripping figures in the previous two years, figures released bythe Coroner's Office show.
Samaritan Befrienders chairman Mr Wong Yao told the Sunday Morning Postthat mounting debt as a result of the economic slowdown was themain reason for the increased number of suicides.
He said nearly 25 per cent of those who committed suicide wereunemployed. Twenty-two percent of the total were aged between 40 and 49,while 19 per cent were aged 30 to 39.
The most common form of suicide remained leaping off buildingsfollowed by hanging and inhaling carbon monoxide from burningcharcoal.
The total number of suicides in 1999 was 882 and 868 in 1998.
AFP