Hong Kong Chinese, when compared with the world population, have an intermediate incidence rate for colorectal carcinoma. The purpose of this retrospective analysis of a large number of colorectal Carcinomas (I ,I I 7 cases) was to explore possible differences between this series and others, and to re-examine the divergent features reported in a smaller series. The present study revealed a distribution by age, sex, site and Dukes' stage, as well as histopathological features, which were analogous to those reported from other countries. Thus, while the incidence is lower in this group, the other manifestations of the disease are very similar to those seen elsewhere. The implication is that, apart from varying incidence, there is a global similarity among colorectal tumours.
There is a reported marked difference between the incidence of colorectal carcinoma in the developed and developing countries (Morson and Dawson, 1979). Hong Kong, which can be regarded as transitional in terms of the above, has an incidence rate of colorectal carcinoma which is intermediate between the rates for low-and high-incidence areas (Waterhouse et al., 1982). The purpose of our study was to document and compare our experiences with a large number of such carcinomas acquired from a major teaching hospital caring for an average cross-section of the population. In addition, there have been reports from Hong Kong (Wong and Ong, 1978) suggesting that colorectal carcinoma in Hong Kong Chinese exhibits features at variance with those described elsewhere. It was our impression that there were more similarities than differences, which further prompted this review.
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