Chinanews, Hong Kong, Apr. 24 – Marriage between Hong Kong people and people in the mainland becomes more common now. In 2006, the average age of Hong Kong men who married women in the mainland was 38.7, some 10.2 years older than the average age of their wives, while ten years ago, the age difference stood at 7.4 years old. This seems to indicate that Hong Kong men are more willing to marry a younger wife. On the other hand, most Hong Kong women, if they marry men in the mainland, are more likely to choose their spouses of their own age, the Hong Kong-based Ming Pao News reported.

 

In 2006, some 18,000 men went through marriage registration procedures with mainland women in Hong Kong. At the same time, 10,000 Hong Kong men carried their “single” marital status certificates to have their marriage ceremonies held in the mainland. It is therefore estimated that about 28,000 Hong Kong men married mainland women last year, up 14% from 1996.

 

In 2006, about 3,400 Hong Kong women went through marriage registration procedures with mainland men in Hong Kong, and 3,100 Hong Kong women went through their marriage celebrations in the mainland. In all, 6,500 Hong Kong women married mainland men last year, an increase of 250% from a decade ago.