Ninety per cent of people oppose the expansion of gambling, fearing it will debase sport and corrupt youngsters, a survey has shown.
The poll, conducted by the moral concern groups Breakthrough and the Society for Truth and Light, comes in the wake of tentative official discussions on the legalisation of soccer betting.
A total of 2,026 people aged 12 and above were interviewed in a random telephone survey and overwhelmingly disagreed that there should be more outlets for gambling.
Just over 70 per cent of respondents said legalising soccer betting would promote gambling and devalue sport.
More than 80 per cent said they expected match-fixing to result.
Society for Truth and Light general secretary Choi Chi-sum said he was angered by talk of legalising soccer betting.
'It is ridiculous to say that gambling will help to promote football in Hong Kong. Should we also have gambling on other sporting events in order to promote sport activities, even the Asian Games?' he said.