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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 10) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 beaches.
Eighteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 were rated as Fair (Grade 2) and three were rated as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silverstrand Beach
* Discovery Bay South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
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 Pui O Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Shek O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Golden Beach Stanley Main Beach
Grade 3 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach Ting Kau Beach
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 or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Shek O Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Anglers' Beach and Ting Kau 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.
"For Chung Hom Kok Beach, temporary deterioration of water quality was observed. The latest sample obtained shows that the water quality of the beach has improved. Our investigation did not find any specific pollution source. We will continue to monitor the beach regularly."
Noting that a recent oil spill had affected Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District, the EPD spokesman advised the public to check the latest update from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before swimming.
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, July 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:00
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