The survey was recently conducted by the Department of Marketing of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on more than 400 women of different age groups and professions, and focused on their value systems, self-image, family, career, the status of the two sexes, their spending patterns and the perception of certain renowned brands.

The survey found that more than 50 percent of Hong Kong women still hold traditional beliefs about the family, with 57.5 percent saying they still believe raising children is the biggest achievement a woman could have.

However, about 50 percent of the women surveyed also said they could accept pre-marital sex.

When it comes to brand recognition, most of the brands the respondents have identified tend to be international ones. Brands they have named in the descending order of frequency are: Nokia, Nike, LV, Sony, SKII, National, Gucci, Coca Cola, Chanel and Mercedes Benz.

The survey also found that in spite of the economic downturn, Hong Kong women are still spending a considerable amount of their income on slimming and beauty products and services, smoking and drinking, mobile phones, clothes and accessories, jewelry and traveling.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2003)