The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 28) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).   
   
     Thirteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and 11 as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are: 
 

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Butterfly Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Golden Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Approach Beach	Lido Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Casam Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Castle Peak Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Deep Water Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kwun Yam Beach and St Stephen's Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Ma Wan Tung Wan 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," an 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.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected 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 website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Ends/Friday, June 28, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:00

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