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Grading of beach water quality released
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 28) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 beaches.

     Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 20 were rated as Fair (Grade 2) and one was rated as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach    Shek O Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach           South Bay Beach  
Discovery Bay*                St. Stephen's Beach  
Hung Shing Yeh Beach          Stanley Main Beach  
Kiu Tsui Beach                Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach                Trio Beach  
Lo So Shing Beach             Turtle Cove Beach  
Repulse Bay Beach             Upper Cheung Sha Beach
 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 
Big Wave Bay Beach            Hap Mun Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach               Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach           Kadoorie Beach  
Cafeteria Old Beach           Lido Beach  
Casam Beach                   Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Castle Peak Beach             Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach  
Clear Water Bay First Beach   Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach  Pui O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach          Silver Mine Bay Beach
Golden Beach                  Silverstrand Beach
 
Grade 3 beach is:
 
Approach 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, Shek O Beach and Tong Fuk Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay 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," an EPD spokesman said.

     Under our 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, June 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:01

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