Grading of beach water quality released
***************************************
Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Shek O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Trio Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Butterfly Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Discovery Bay | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Golden Beach* |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Pui O Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Discovery Bay has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Approach 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 16, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
NNNN