The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 17) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 13 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Big Wave Bay Beach*	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	South Bay Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	St. Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach*	Kadoorie Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach	Pui O Beach*
Cafeteria Old Beach	Shek O Beach*
Casam Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach	Trio Beach
Golden Beach*

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*	Lido Beach*
Approach Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Castle Peak Beach	Ting Kau Beach*
Hoi Mei Wan Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Repulse Bay Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Casam Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Clear Water Bay First Beach, Pui O Beach and Tai Po Lung Mei Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Castle Peak 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 tropical cyclone 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.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.
 
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
 
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.

Ends/Friday, May 17, 2024
Issued at HKT 16:33

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