The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 2) released the latest grading of water quality of 39 beaches.

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

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cafeteria New Beach                   Lo So Shing Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach    Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach                Middle Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach                Repulse Bay Beach
Golden Beach                             South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach                    St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach                Trio Beach
Kadoorie Beach                           Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach                            Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
                     
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach                           Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Approach Beach                         Lido Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach                   Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Butterfly Beach                          Pui O Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach                    Shek O Beach
Casam Beach                             Silver Mine Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach                      Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach        Stanley Main Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach    Tong Fuk Beach
* Discovery Bay                  

Grade 3 beaches are:

Ting Kau Beach  

     The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. All gazetted beaches are equipped with shark nets.

     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

     Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach and Golden Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Pui O Beach and Tong Fuk 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," the 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.

     Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose last E coli reading exceeded a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.

     People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.

     The EPD spokesman warned that many beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

Ends/Friday, September 2, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00

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