From April 1995 through September 1995, a day surgery pilot was conducted by the Department of Surgery, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong. The aim was to introduce the day surgery concept and to assess local patient acceptance of day surgery. One hundred and seventy patients, mostly below 50 years of age, were operated on as day surgery patients during the six months. Only two patients were admitted after their operations. The most common early post-operative problems were vomiting (15 patients) and headache (14 patients). Eighty-three per cent of the patients who responded to a satisfaction survey rated their overall satisfaction as good or excellent. In conclusion., younger patients accepted the day surgery concept readily and were mostly satisfied with the day surgery experience. Detailed pre-operative briefing and attention to case selection appear useful in achieving high patient acceptance and satisfaction.