Grading of beach water quality released
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Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eighteen as Fair (Grade 2) and three as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lido Beach |
| Casam Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Butterfly Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay and Trio Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Middle Bay Beach and Shek O Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Cafeteria Old 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 our 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 also 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. 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.
Ends/Friday, July 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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