Lawmakers yesterday criticised the government for lagging in efforts to combat pathological gambling, and urged officials to increase spending on education programmes and law enforcement.

In a special meeting of the Legislative Council finance committee, Democrat Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said the money currently spent by the government on educating people about the dangers of gambling was insufficient, in the wake of last year's legalisation of soccer betting. The Hong Kong Jockey Club contributes $24 million to a fund set up by the government to address gambling-related problems.

A number of measures are to be implemented in educating young people on the dark side of gambling.