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

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 17) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 beaches.

     Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach     Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach            Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach   Shek O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach           South Bay Beach
* Discovery Bay                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
Lo So Shing Beach              Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach                 Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Approach Beach                 Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach                Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach            Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach            Middle Bay Beach
Casam Beach                    Pui O Beach
Castle Peak Beach              Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach    Silverstrand Beach
Golden Beach                   Ting Kau Beach

Grade 4 beach is:

Big Wave Bay 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, Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Lower Cheung Sha Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Middle Bay Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 4.

     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches. The very poor water quality of Big Wave Bay Beach is largely due to the recent heavy rainfall," the EPD spokesman said.

     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.

Ends/Friday, June 17, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:03

NNNN

Print this page