The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 28) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 21 as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach*
Discovery Bay	St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Repulse Bay Beach*	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Shek O Beach*

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*	Golden Beach*
Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach*	Kadoorie Beach*
Butterfly Beach*	Lido Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Casam Beach*	Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Pui O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Ting Kau Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Shek O Beach, Tai Po Lung Mei Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Cafeteria Old Beach and Pui O Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
 
     "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, July 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:00

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