Grading of beach water quality released
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Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), fourteen as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Casam Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Silverstrand Beach |
| Golden Beach | 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 |
| Lido Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Deep Water Bay Beach |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Grade 3 beach is:
Castle Peak Beach
Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Big Wave Bay Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Shek O Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Since their last grading (Grade 4) on May 16, Butterfly Beach and Kadoorie Beach have been upgraded to Grade 2.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.
"For Butterfly Beach and Kadoorie Beach, we observed that the earlier temporary deterioration of water quality (sampled on May 15) was due to heavy rain. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beaches has improved."
The EPD spokesman also 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.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the geometric mean of the E coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions. Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose E coli readings show abnormalities that may affect bathers' health. Bathers should avoid swimming at these beaches until their water quality improves.
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.
Ends/Friday, May 19, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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