Career people in their 20s and 30s in Hong Kong are facing increasing stress and loneliness as they struggle to advance during the economic slump - in many cases without a husband or wife to support them.
According to Bureau of Census and Statistics figures, the number of people who have never married increased by nearly 25 per cent in 10 years, from 1.4 million people in 1991 to 1.78 million in 2001.
Government figures also show the medium age for first marriages has fallen back by four years over the same period - from 27 for men and 23.9 for women in 1981 to 31.1 for men and 28.1 for women.
Chan Lai-wan, social work and social administration professor from the University of Hong Kong, said there was a strong trend in Hong Kong for people to marry late or remain single. She said one factor was that more people were going on to higher education and delaying marriage. She added that Hong Kong women who benefited from higher education and financial independence chose to remain single as they were reluctant to marry people with lower education standards and earning power.
But sociology professor Ting Kwok-fai from Chinese University said Hong Kong Chinese, still bound by tradition, regard marriage and having children as a must in their life.
'People start to face social pressure from families and friends when they still remain single in their late 20s and early 30s. Families and friends urge them to get married - this can create frustration,' Professor Ting said.