ENG-2005 — Page 481

Recreation, Sport and the Arts ❘ 415

Books Registration Office

The Books Registration Office helps preserve Hong Kong's literary heritage. through the registration of local publications and monitors the use of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system. It publishes 'A Catalogue of Books Printed in Hong Kong' quarterly in the Government Gazette, which can be accessed through the Internet. In 2005, the office registered a total of 14 603 books. and 14 163 periodicals, and 708 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, water sports centres, 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 25 camps run by 12 non-governmental organisations. Some 817 000 people participated in the activities organised by these camps during the year.

Hong Kong Sports Institute Limited

The Hong Kong Sports Institute Limited was established on October 1, 2004 to provide an environment in which sports talent can be identified, nurtured and developed. Other than sports facilities, the support given to athletes includes elite. coaching and training, sports science, sports medicine, education, applied research and sports information. There are 13 sports in the elite training programme athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, rowing, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, windsurfing and wushu. The institute also supports outstanding athletes of other sports under the Individual Athletes Support Scheme and the Disabled Sports Elite Training Programme. During the year the institute focused on the preparation of athletes for three major games (10th National Games, 4th East Asian Games and 1st Asian Indoor Games) and planning for its reprovisioning and redevelopment due to the staging of the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events at the institute.

Sporting Achievements

Hong Kong athletes achieved significant success in 2005, winning a total of 195 gold, 168 silver and 183 bronze medals at national, Asian and international championships.

In 2005, the Hong Kong, China delegation participated in the 10th National Games, the 4th East Asian Games and the 1st Asian Indoor Games. In the 10th National Games held in Nanjing, the Hong Kong team won one gold and three bronze medals. In the 4th East Asian Games held in Macao, Hong Kong captured two gold, two silver and nine bronze medals while in the 1st Asian Indoor Games held in Bangkok, Hong Kong won a total of 12 gold, nine silver and five bronze medals.