Some may say pre-nuptial agreements are against the spirit of marriage. But they are gaining popularity in many parts of the world. Smile, a British internet bank, found that of their 100,000 customers with joint accounts, nearly half also had separate accounts. Their 2004 survey also revealed that 47 per cent of British women, and 44 per cent of men, would like to safeguard their money and assets should their marriage break down.

At present, pre-nuptials in Hong Kong cover only the financial side. But countries like Britain and the US have reportedly observed increasingly bizarre clauses in pre-nups, effectively dictating the couple's lifestyle. The enforceability of these in court remains a question. Some examples are: No cheating; only one football game a week [for him]; weight limit [for her]; no sleepover visits from mother-in-law; curb your tongue around the in-laws; frequency of sex; custody of the dog in case of divorce.