Wedding party venues and banquet organisers have welcomed the idea of allowing marriages outside churches and register offices, predicting it would give the industry a boost. They say while most Chinese couples favour traditional weddings, the proposed changes would offer them more choices. Some couples dream of marrying in unique style, but until now have been restricted by the law, the organisers say. Under the proposed amendments to the Marriage Ordinance, couples would be able to appoint an authorised solicitor to conduct their ceremony at a place and date of their choice. The change would mean that, in theory, couples could - if they obtained permission - tie the knot at Happy Valley race course, on the Star Ferry, the Peak Tram or at the summit of Hong Kong's highest mountain, Tai Mo Shan. In countries with such a law, there have been weddings at the bottom of the ocean, in hot-air balloons, on roller-coasters, inside a cable car and on top of famous monuments and buildings such as the Empire State Building in New York. 'Hong Kong is such a small place I can't see we would have difficulty taking couples to the spot they fancy to say 'I do',' said Sharon Lee Man-ching, director of catering and conferences at the Great Eagle Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. 'Of course, one has to be practical. You can't expect them to be able to exchange vows in a hot-air balloon. Hong Kong has so many tall buildings I don't think the Government would allow it.' Ms Lee said many couples the hotel had served preferred to wed in a church or at a marriage registry, but couples might think differently under a new law. She said the cost of staging a unique wedding would vary. If the ceremony was held outdoors, couples would have to pay 10 to 15 per cent more than normal. A wedding banquet of 30 tables generally costs about $220,000. Charges for a wedding dress package, including photographs, vary from $8,000 to $20,000. Mildred Chang Mei-lin, director of La Sposa Wedding Services in Hunghom, said many brides took their weddings seriously and wanted to marry in church. Some were even baptised as Catholics or Christians weeks before their marriages to make themselves eligible. Ms Chang said that while most couples preferred traditional weddings, she believed a relaxation of the law would offer more options. Kowloon Hotel public relations manager Elaine Li said: 'We already have couples coming up with all sorts of wedding ideas and wanting to host their receptions in elegant places.' Hong Kong Tourism Board spokesman Simon Clennell said if the law was amended, it would make it easier for overseas couples to get married in Hong Kong. 'It would definitely benefit the tourist industry. We have already marketed Hong Kong as a romantic destination for couples, not just for weddings but honeymoons, particularly for couples from the mainland, Korea and Taiwan,' he said. A government source said under the proposed amendment, less popular marriage registries were likely to close. An Immigration Department spokesman said the department was already considering closing 'a few under-utilised registries'. The registries employ a total of 80 people. Graphic: WED05GET