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In Chinese culture, marriage is regarded as a milestone in life, and this is especially true for women. However, in the past 15 years, the non-marriage rate among Hong Kong women has been growing.

Dr. Grant Evans, an anthropologist at the University of Hong Kong, said that this is the first time in recent history he has witnessed a growing non-marriage rate in Hong Kong, higher than those in the West.

Rising expectations for satisfaction in marriage and the stigma attached to divorce encourage people to choose not to get married.

He said, "Although many women are not getting married, they at the same time express a desire for marriage.

"It's not saying 'I don't want to get married'. It's saying 'I want to get married with somebody I love'," said he.

They are looking for a very intense relationship, which is often very hard to find.

They want both emotional and sexual satisfaction in marriage, but people may begin to express dissatisfaction with their marriage if one part goes wrong, he said.

Dr. Evans further explained that although women have led this revolution in sentiment, this revolution is not finding a response in men.

Girls of this generation do not want to get into a relationship that is going to make them unhappy or potentially unhappy. Hence, they stay single, Dr. Evans said.

The changing emotional attitudes of parents towards daughters proves that women have become more important to families.

Higher education lets them seek better jobs and have greater independence.

'Ah Yim', 47, is an unmarried woman.

"It is ridiculous that women must get married. But I don't mean that I don't want to get married," she said, "I just can't find the right guy to love."

Although she does not plan to get married soon, she lives happily.

Juliana So's views are similar to Ah Yim's. She is 37 years old and works as an executive in an office. She has a boyfriend, but she has never thought of marrying him.

"In Hong Kong, marriage can help couples save money as renting a flat is very expensive. But I will not marry only for that purpose," she said.

"I think love fades after marriage. Conflicts are unavoidable. It's better if we can stay separate for a while, as we stay single.

Miss So's mother bought jewellery for her 16 years ago as her dowry. Now Miss So thinks that the jewellery is useless.

Dr. Maria Tam Siu Mi of the Department of Anthropology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong said that the Chinese traditional ideas make unmarried women in Hong Kong conservative in their hearts.

"Every woman is expected to be a good wife and a good mother."

Dr. Tam noted that working women are still expected to inherit the traditional roles in a family.

Many female lawyers, doctors and accountants still have to take care of their families after work.

Today some people even think working women violate natural law.

These traditional views pressure many Hong Kong women, turning them away from the paths of marriage.