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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 14) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 beaches.
Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 were rated as Fair (Grade 2) and one was rated as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach St. Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay* Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
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 Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Grade 3 beach is:
Pui O 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, Trio Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Hap Mun Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2. Pui O Beach has changed from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Stanley Main Beach has been upgraded to Grade 2 since its last grading (Grade 4) this Sunday (June 9).
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
"For Stanley Main Beach, we observed that temporary deterioration of water quality was largely due to heavy rain. The latest sample obtained shows that the beach water quality has returned to normal. Our investigation did not show any specific pollution sources, and we will continue to monitor this beach regularly."
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 are 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, June 14, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:05
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