Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
Grading of beach water quality released
***************************************

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 18) released the latest grading of water quality of 38 beaches.

Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 14 were rated as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 
Big Wave Bay Beach              Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria New Beach             Lo So Shing Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach             Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach             Repulse Bay Beach  
Clear Water Bay First Beach     Shek O Beach  
Clear Water Bay Second Beach    South Bay Beach  
Deep Water Bay Beach            St. Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay*                  Stanley Main Beach  
Hap Mun Bay Beach               Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach            Trio Beach  
Kadoorie Beach                  Turtle Cove Beach  
Kiu Tsui Beach                  Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:
 
Anglers' Beach                  Hoi Mei Wan Beach  
Approach Beach                  Lido Beach  
Butterfly Beach                 Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Casam Beach                     Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach  
Castle Peak Beach               Pui O Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach      Silver Mine Bay Beach
Golden Beach                    Silverstrand 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, Cafeteria Old Beach, Kadoorie Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to 1. Anglers' Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to 2. Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to 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, October 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:01

NNNN

Print this page