It surveyed 24,107 women aged from 25 to 35 from December 2006 and March 2007.

Women from Taiwan Province have more expectation in money, due to province's stagnant economy and marriage culture.

As a result, a large number of women feel insecure and uncertain about their future and marriage, Lan Huaien, a Taiwan gender culture researcher and a writer, said.

The survey showed that women in Hong Kong were more romantic, with 34.3 percent of women believing that love mattered the most.

"Hong Kong women are in the drought of love," Su Hei, a Hong Kong psychological consultant, said.

"They have raised higher standards in choosing their matches."

Perhaps this higher standard would account for the 30-40 percent of Hong Kong men who prefer to marry women from the Chinese mainland.

On the other hand, perhaps women in Hong Kong, where material goals are easier to obtain, require more substance in the soul.

(China Daily 03/27/2007 page5)

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