Grading of beach water quality released
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Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Casam Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lido Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Ting Kau Beach |
Grade 3 beach is:
Butterfly Beach
Compared with the grading released last week, Castle Peak Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Discovery Bay, Golden Beach, Middle Bay Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Butterfly Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.
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.
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.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The 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 and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Ends/Friday, May 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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