ENG-2003 — Page 494

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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The cultural link with libraries in the Mainland, especially in the Greater Pearl River Delta, was also strengthened particularly in the areas of training, exchange of publications, library visits, reference service and organisation of joint functions such as talks and exhibitions. As part of the professional exchanges, a delegation of 16 librarian staff from the Shenzhen Library underwent an attachment programme at the Hong Kong Public Libraries.

Books Registration Office

The main functions of the Books Registration Office are to help preserve Hong Kong's literary heritage through the registration of local publications and to monitor the use of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system. A Catalogue of Books Printed in Hong Kong is published quarterly by the Books Registration Office in the Government Gazette, which can be accessed through the Internet. In 2003, the office registered a total of 13 075 books and 13 427 periodicals, and 669 new publisher prefixes conforming to the ISBN.

Sport and Recreation

A growing number of Hong Kong people enjoy a varied selection of sports and recreational facilities and activities. The LCSD develops and manages facilities such. as sports grounds, playgrounds, sports centres, holiday camps, swimming pools and beaches. It also organises training courses, sporting competitions and other activities for people of all ages and abilities, and encourages passive recreation by providing parks and landscaped open spaces.

In addition, the department administers subventions provided to camps run by non-governmental organisations. There are 25 camps run by 12 separate organisations receiving subventions, and about 662 970 people participated in the activities organised by these camps during the year.

Hong Kong Sports Development Board

The Hong Kong Sports Development Board is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport and physical recreation in Hong Kong. In 2002-03, the board received a government subvention of $188.4 million, which included a contribution towards the Elite Training Programme for the HKSAR's top athletes at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. The board allocated $122.14 million to this programme in 2002-03, to provide to 314 scholarship athletes high-level coaching, squad training programmes, meals and accommodation, support in sports science and medicine, education and career guidance and use of training facilities. The key sports in the training programme are athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, rowing, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, windsurfing and wushu. Separately, the board provided $1.23 million to 13 athletes under the Individual Athletes Support Scheme, and $0.5 million under the Disabled Sports Elite Training Programme, to the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped.

Sporting Achievements

HKSAR athletes achieved significant success in 2003, winning a total of 244 gold, 222 silver and 181 bronze medals at their respective National, Asian and International Championships.