Grading of beach water quality released
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Twenty-eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 11 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Casam Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| * Discovery Bay | Shek O Beach |
| Golden Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lido Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Clear Water Bay First Beach |
| Approach Beach | Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Castle Peak 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. The 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 and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second 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, October 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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