A survey conducted by a Christian group in Hong Kong revealed that, despite the city's reputation as racy and cosmopolitan, young people are 'surprisingly' traditional when it comes to sex.

While nearly 50 per cent of university and college students said they thought premarital sex was unacceptable, 30 per cent said they would be unhappy if the man or woman they married was not a virgin.

In addition, the Hong Kong Sex Culture Society asked the youth what form of contact was appropriate for boyfriends and girlfriends before marriage. Out of the 943 students polled, 411 said kissing, while only 27 per cent said they thought sex was appropriate.

Seventy per cent of the young people questioned said they believed in lifelong unions and that people should look for partners who they would remain with for life.

The results demonstrated how traditional beliefs about marriage and morality still largely hold sway in the city of 6.8 million.

Because of the city's size, most college and university students in Hong Kong live at home rather than on campus. Young people usually carry on living with their parents until, and sometimes after, they marry.