Education groups Wednesday criticized Hong Kong's proposal to legalize betting on soccer matches - which the government hopes will curb illegal bookmakers and boost tax revenues.

"Gambling causes bankruptcies," said Tang Siu-hung, an official from a union that represents school principals. "Gambling results in broken families. Gambling breeds violent tendencies. Gambling causes a decline in the work ethic."

The government has said its gambling proposal would raise an estimated 1.5 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$192.3 million) a year in extra tax revenue, some of which would be donated to a fund to raise public awareness about gambling addiction.

But opponents warned in a legislative hearing Wednesday that the measure would attract youngsters to gambling on soccer - a popular sport among Hong Kong students.

"Don't ignore the damage done to the development of our youth for the sake of a superficial economic gain," said Tam Ping-yuen, president of a school counselors association. Religious groups have also spoken out against the proposal.

Many Hong Kong people are enthusiastic gamblers, though their legal options for betting at home are limited.

Thousands flock to the casinos in nearby Macau, while others place wagers on the two forms of betting permitted in Hong Kong - local horse races and a numbers-game lottery. Both are operated as monopolies by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, a non-profit charity that would end up handling the soccer betting.

But supporters say bets on soccer are accepted in many cities and countries around the world and Hong Kong might as well fall into line.

"As a global metropolis, financial capital ... why don't we have it?" asked Wong Bing-sang, president of an association of property owners and tenants.

Hong Kong officials say legal soccer betting would help get rid of illegal bookmakers who now takes in millions in wagers.

Home Affairs Department deputy secretary Stephen Fisher said the betting would "limit the room for survival of the illegal operators."

The government proposal was designed "for the benefit of Hong Kong as a whole," Fisher said, adding that studies have indicated it would not aggravate the problem of gambling addiction.

Hong Kong's legislative council is currently considering the proposal.