The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 17) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).

     Eleven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 19 as Fair (Grade 2) and nine as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are: 

Hap Mun Bay Beach*	St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Stanley Main Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Pui O Beach*	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
South Bay Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach*	Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Repulse Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Discovery Bay	Ting Kau Beach
Golden Beach*	Tong Fuk Beach
Kadoorie Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Lido Beach*
Casam Beach*	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Castle Peak Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach

     Compared with the grading released last week, Hoi Mei Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 4 to Grade 3. Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Kwun Yam Beach, Repulse Bay Beach and Tong Fuk Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Big Wave Bay 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, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 16 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from June 2.

Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

Ends/Friday, June 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:30

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