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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 8) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 beaches.
Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 15 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Cafeteria New Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Casam Beach Lower Cheung Sha
Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lido Beach Upper Cheung Sha
Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Approach Beach Kadoorie Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Butterfly Beach Shek O Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach Silverstrand Beach
* Discovery Bay Ting Kau Beach
Golden 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, Cafeteria New Beach, Casam Beach, Lido Beach and Trio Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Golden Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach and Shek O 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 beach," the EPD spokesman said.
Noting that suspected red tides have recently affected a number of beaches at various districts, the EPD spokesman advised the public to check the latest update from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before swimming.
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 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.
Meanwhile, the department has published the report entitled "Beach Water Quality in Hong Kong 2015". The report summarises the water quality of gazetted beaches in 2015 and is accessible online at www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, April 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:01
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