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Alice Woodhouse

Those who say money cannot buy happiness have obviously not met the matchmaker who will help you find love for a fee of HK$155,000.
Exclusive dating agency Berkeley International is expanding its operation to Hong Kong in a bid to help the city's elite find the perfect partner.
Mairead Molloy, director and owner of London-based Berkeley International, pairs up singles at the top of their careers, whose hectic work and travel schedules can put a relationship beyond their reach.
"If you pay the fee that we charge, you're not coming in to look for arm candy," Molloy said. "Our clients are looking for serious relationships, longevity, marriage, children."
Offices in Europe, North America and Australia cater to a jet-set clientele of 5,500.
The strong desire for romance among these high achievers pushes enquiries up by 115 per cent ahead of Valentine's Day, which falls on Saturday.
As a first step, former psychologist Molloy or one of her staff meets a client over lunch to learn about their lives and what they are looking for in a mate.
Molloy's rules dictate first dates conform to the traditional format of the man picking the woman up from her door.
Unlike dating websites, personal details are kept to a minimum and singles only see what their date looks like when they meet in the flesh.
After the dinner date, each party tells the agency if there was chemistry or if sparks failed to fly.
"If people do what we say and follow our instincts and years of experience, [it takes] about seven [dates]," Molloy said. "But if you're strong minded, very self-opinionated and think you know what's best for yourself, then 11 or 12, or 13."
Molloy said men were more decisive about choosing a partner, while women over-analysed.
Success rates were highest among younger daters, at about 90 per cent for those aged 18 to 28, falling to 85 per cent for clients aged 28 to 35, she added.
The agency has not kept track of weddings in its 12 years in business, but Molloy said she heard of roughly 10 marriages each year.
Mei Ling Liu, founder of Hong Kong Matchmaker, who has matched local professionals for eight years, blames low marriage rates on a traditional obsession with a suitor's age.
Men of all ages will only consider a woman aged under 35, while women avoid men more than 10 years their senior as they do not want to become carers.
"If everybody would step back and look at each other in person, instead of looking at how old the person is, then I think a lot more people would be happily married by now," Liu said.


Elite dating agency puts HK$155,000 price tag on love

Exclusive dating agency Berkeley International is expanding its operation to Hong Kong.

Mairead Molloy

News

Hong Kong

London-based Berkeley International sets up in Hong Kong to help lonely jet-setters find partner


Those who say money cannot buy happiness have obviously not met the matchmaker who will help you find love for a fee of HK$155,000.


Elite dating agency puts HK$155,000 price tag on love

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}London-based Berkeley International sets up in Hong Kong to help lonely jet-setters find partner

London-based Berkeley International sets up in Hong Kong to help lonely jet-setters find partner