HONGKONG'S business community have put $18 million into local sport in the past 15 months - but more is needed to maintain the momentum at all levels of sport.
That was the message from the chairman of the Hongkong Sports Development Board (SDB), David Gledhill, at a luncheon for present and potential sponsors yesterday.
Guests heard that the SDB's sports sponsorship advisory service had raised $18 million.
Gledhill said: ''I think it is very important for the corporate sector to support sport, especially now the Government have indicated there will be no increase in the amount they give to the SDB, other than inflation-linked.
''This means we will have to rely on money from the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club and from the corporate sector.'' The SDB, a statutory body set up on April 1, 1990, to promote and develop sport and physical recreation in Hongkong, received $55 million from the Government for the 1992-93 financial year and can expect to receive around $60.5 million for the next year.
''During its first 15 months, the sports sponsorship advisory service raised $18 million, which is equal to 25 per cent of the budget from the Government,'' added Gledhill.