IT DOESN'T really matter if a mamasan is old or young.

What matters is how she handles her girls, and what kind of quality service these girls can provide.

The New Paper on Sunday approached 12 businessmen to find out if age mattered when it came to mamasans.

Most said it didn't.

It's the quality of attention and entertainment that counts.

Mr Richard Kong, 56, chief executive officer of a digital printing firm, has to host business associates about thrice a month.

He said: "I'm more concerned over whether the girls (hostesses) are able to keep my associates happy or not."

He usually spends about $4,000 each time during his visits to Tiananmen KTV & Lounge on Havelock Road.

Keeping his associates "happy" does not mean any hanky-panky - just singing, playing dice games and making small talk, he said.

And small talk can be quite sophisticated.

"Most of the hostesses now have better street knowledge, they are well-read and know how to provide intelligent communication," he added.

Many speak English "well enough" and others can speak various Chinese dialects.

Mr Kong said: "Good mamasans take excellent care of you - they teach their girls well too. And if you are a regular, they also know how much you are willing to spend and won't push you into opening more bottles."

This even though the mamasans' main source of income these days comes from liquor commission.

Sometimes, older and more experienced mamasans are also more adept at turning down unsolicited, indecent proposals from clients.

Businessman Gerry Tan, 45, who owns two boutiques - one in Singapore and another in Shanghai - said he was relieved that the mamasan had handled a recent incident with finesse.

He visits the Grand Century Nite Club once a week, spending $3,000 each time.

Said Mr Tan: "One of my clients had started to get touchy-feely with one of the women and the mamasan stepped in to stop him - but she did it so subtly that he even tipped her $300 when we left."

Mr Tan added: "It'd have been dire if the situation was not handled well, particularly since the man was a new client of mine."

But younger mamasans too, have their appeal for customers, like events director William Ho.

He goes to Deluxe Lido Palace and Dreamz Kabuki once a week and can easily spend more than $4,000 on each visit.

While the 38-year-old declined to elaborate, he said: "Younger mamasans are able to get their girls 'to go the extra mile'."

When asked if that included sexual services, Mr Ho said: "Whatever it is, nothing happens in the clubs."

Entertainment services and companionship aside, the club patrons also expect discretion and appreciate mamasans who "know how to keep mum" about clients' identities.

Mr Ho added: "Once, I brought a Taiwanese singer and his band members to a nightclub and by the next day, the Chinese media got wind of it.

"We investigated later and found out that a mamasan had told one of her media friends."

He complained to the club owner and the mamasan was fired immediately.

Broker Kenneth Low, 45, said: "Some of my clients are well-known, public faces. I need to be assured that the mamasans can ensure that her girls are not loose-lips."

He added: "People still tend to associate nightclubs with sleaze - not entirely inaccurate - but ultimately, for many of the patrons, it's a place to unwind.

"So, it's definitely taboo if a visit to the nightclub turns into a fire-fighting event."

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This article was first published in The New Paper.