Grading of beach water quality released
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Eleven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), seventeen as Fair (Grade 2) and ten as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Discovery Bay | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Repulse Bay Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Golden Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Lido Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Trio Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Pui O Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Chung Hom Kok Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Castle Peak Beach and Golden 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," the 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.
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.
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.
Ends/Friday, July 21, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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