The Hong Kong Sports Institute and five Mainland training and research institutes for elite athletes have signed a memorandum of collaboration to strengthen co-operation in the preparation for large-scale sports events.

Witnessing the signing today Secretary for Home Affairs Tang Tak-sing said the Government has been encouraging and supporting exchange between the local sports sector and elite athletes on the Mainland and abroad.

He said he hoped the six institutes can deepen co-operation in four areas to train more elite athletes. They are scientific research on competitive sports, sports medicine support, training of athletes and technical personnel, and information-sharing of international sports.

"As Hong Kong is hosting the 2009 East Asian Games this year I hope the deepening of our co-operation with the Mainland will facilitate local elite athletes to better prepare themselves for the East Asian Games, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games," he said.