Grading of beach water quality released
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Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | South Bay Beach* |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Trio Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Butterfly Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Casam Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Pui O Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Approach Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Deep Water Bay Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Kiu Tsui Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Middle Bay Beach and Pui O Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Anglers' 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 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 1.
Note 2: The non-gazetted beach is Discovery Bay which has no lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, June 23, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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