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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 4) released the latest grading of water quality of eight beaches.
Among them, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Golden Beach and Silverstrand Beach are open to swimmers all year round.
Four other beaches in the Southern District have also been open for swimming since March 1. They are Big Wave Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach.
Seven beaches were rated as good (grade 1) and one as fair (grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Stanley Main Beach
Golden Beach
Grade 2 beach is:
Silverstrand Beach
These are gazetted beaches equipped with shark nets.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach has been upgraded from grade 2 to 1.
"The change is generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," the EPD spokesman said.
Noting that a suspected red tide has recently affected Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District, the EPD spokesman advised the public to check the latest update from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before swimming.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose last E coli reading exceeded a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.
People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.
The EPD spokesman warned that many beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
Ends/Friday, March 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:01
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