Examining cross‐border marriages in Hong Kong since its return to China in 1997

With increasing economic integration and social interactions between Hong Kong and Mainland China, cross‐border marriages between the two have increased substantially, while the sex ratio of the 25–44 age group has decreased to less than one. The influx of Mainland brides, together with ever‐increasing unmarried women in Hong Kong, have put increased pressure on its social and welfare services, and reducing barriers for Hong Kong men seeking Hong Kong women has a significant bearing on social policies. Based on a theoretical perspective that combines assortative mating and societal disparity, the current study examined cross‐border marriages in Hong Kong between 1998 and 2005. It was found that Hong Kong grooms with Mainland brides were less likely than Hong Kong grooms with Hong Kong brides to be assortative in terms of education, occupation and natal community. It was also found that Hong Kong grooms often married much younger brides due to their own delayed marriages and second plus marriages.