The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 1) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     
   
     Thirty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Big Wave Bay Beach*	Lo So Shing Beach
Butterfly Beach*	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Pui O Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Discovery Bay	South Bay Beach
Golden Beach*	St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tong Fuk Beach
Kadoorie Beach	Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Lido Beach*
Casam Beach*	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Castle Peak Beach	Ting Kau Beach

 
Grade 3 beach is:

Anglers' Beach

 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.
 
     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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on March 31 that 15 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, will reopen on April 2 with lifeguard services to be provided.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

Ends/Thursday, April 1, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:00

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