Attractive, outgoing and gainfully employed, many don't seem like typical candidates seeking help to widen their social circles and meet potential partners, but there's been a cultural shift.

'People from this generation are less afraid of expressing themselves and feel that if they want something, they can't sit around and do nothing. They have to make it happen,' says Petula Ho Sik-ying, an associate sociology professor at the University of Hong Kong.

For instance, of more than 16,000 people registered with 214dating.com, about 60 per cent are in their 20s. The three-year-old outfit specialises in speed dating but also brings people together through cake-baking classes, dinner parties, hill walks and fruit-picking trips.

'Although in their 20s, clients are looking for long-term relationships and want to have more time and choices when searching for a partner,' says Tammy Chan Wing-sum, a 214 event organiser.

Anna Lau Ka-yi, a pretty 26-year-old, says she went to a singles party last year to test the waters. 'I used to think only losers go to events like these, but I wanted to find out what kind of men are available,' says the marketing executive. 'I also wanted to see if there was an advantage in my youth in a situation like this.'

Similar thinking has led more young women to seek out matchmaking services such as Diamond Singles Club and Affinity Marriage Consultant.

'Women are smarter than before,' says Shirley Chan Wai-shan, a senior consultant at Affinity. 'They are attractive and have good jobs, and they want a partner who is more mature and financially stable. They are frustrated with men their age. They figure their bargaining power with eligible males declines with age. The younger they are, the better their chances of getting the man they want.'

Lunch Actually, a Malaysia-based company that opened a branch in Hong Kong in June to provide more personalised dating services, is also expecting more clients in their 20s, although with membership fees ranging from HK$4,500 to HK$10,000, their lunches are for more affluent singles.

'I've noticed that people in their 20s are more adventurous and more willing to try new things,' says founder Violet Lim Seow Yan. 'When I ask them why they are considering a dating service, they often mention that they are curious and want another avenue to meet new friends.'

Still, youth isn't necessarily an asset. 'From my experience, men might not want girls so young because they think they are not ready to settle down,' says Rachael Chan Ying-lam, an event organiser at Hong Kong Speed Date. 'Most of my [male] clients are looking for a serious and long-term relationship, so they prefer women older than 26.'

For IT engineer Tommy Li, who has tried to meet more women by enrolling in Putonghua classes and travelling alone, speed dating is the more practical option.

'I need to do it because I am just too busy at work. I once worked more than 10 hours a day for three months without a single day off. That's how busy I am,' says the 28-year-old, who has signed up for three sessions in the past eight months. 'It's the quickest and most effective way to meet a large number of women in one go.'

Li is learning, however, that there's more to forming relationships than just getting a phone number at the end of the evening. 'It's not very effective in that people are not following up after the first few meetings, including me,' he says. 'I guess meeting so many people doesn't mean your chances of meeting the right person are higher.

'Some women were there purely for business; they just wanted to meet prospective clients to sell insurance or trust funds to,' he says.

Although none of the singles activities she attended led to romance, Lau says she found the men there more sincere than those she'd met hanging out in clubs in Lan Kwai Fong. 'I think they just want to have fun. If you're looking for a nice guy, you've got to go elsewhere,' she says.

Online dating remains more popular among twentysomethings partly because of the widespread instant messaging culture, says Hon Shu-wing, founder of Hong Kong Professional Company, which offers personal ads and matchmaking services. Those trying to save money browse websites and forums such as Key3.com.hk and Uwants.com to initiate contact before meeting in person.

IT assistant Polly Ng Po-yu has found meeting new friends online more to her taste, describing a HK$200 speed-dating session she joined last year as 'torture'.

'I couldn't afford to do it on a regular basis anyway,' says the 27-year-old. 'I was sick and tired of saying the same things 20 times. I just lost interest halfway. There were some weirdos, one of whom looked and acted like Mr Bean.'

Yet although young people have no qualms about posting personal information and photographs online for prospective dates to view, many are reluctant to own up to joining organised dates. 'I don't want to be labelled,' Li says. 'People tend to think the worst of others. They might think I am a loser.'

Although there's still some stigma attached to alternative ways of seeking a partner, he says 'they are good platforms to meet people and I don't see why young people shouldn't try it'.

But the sociologist admits: 'Everyone still has this secret fantasy of meeting someone in a romantic way, and certainly it doesn't involve online dating or speed dating.'