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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (Friday) announced the latest gradings of beaches to inform swimmers and the general public about the water quality of the beaches in Hong Kong.

During the bathing season, beach grades are released every week before weekend or long holiday in order to provide timely information for the beach-goers.

Under EPD's monitoring system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the recent E. coli data collected. The weekly beach grading is calculated on the basis of the geometric mean E. coli counts in the five most recent sampling occasions.

Among the 37 beaches, 21 are found to be in "good" condition (Grade 1), 15 "fair" (Grade 2) and one "poor" (Grade 3).

"Grade 1" beaches include:

Turtle Cove (S) Discovery Bay*

St Stephen's (S) Lo So Shing (S)

South Bay (S) Hung Shing Yeh (S)

Middle Bay (S) Kwun Yam Wan (S)

Repulse Bay (S) Tung Wan, Cheung Chau (S)

Shek O (S) Clear Water Bay 1st (S)

Stanley Main (S) Hap Mun Bay (S)

Cheung Sha Upper (S) Kiu Tsui (S)

Cheung Sha Lower New Cafeteria (S)

Tong Fuk (S) Golden Beach (S)

Pui O (S)

"Grade 2" beaches include:

Big Wave Bay (S) Lido (S)

Hairpin (S) Casam (S)

Chung Hom Kok (S) Hoi Mei Wan

Deep Water Bay (S) Gemini

Clear Water Bay 2nd (S) Old Cafeteria

Silverstrand (S) Kadoorie (S)

Trio (Hebe Haven) (S) Butterfly (S)

Tung Wan, Ma Wan (S)

"Grade 3" beach is:

Silvermine Bay (S)

Note: * Non-gazetted beach

(S) Shark prevention net installed

The grade of Clear Water Bay First and Golden Beach changed from "2" to "1"; Gemini from "3" to "2"; Tung Wan on Ma Wan from "1" to "2"; and Silvermine Bay from "2" to "3". The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of these beaches.

Beaches of Grade 1 to 3 are suitable for swimming. At present, five gazetted beaches, namely Anglers', Approach, Ting Kau, Castle Peak and Rocky Bay, are closed to swimmers for the bathing season because of their water quality being unsuitable for swimming or due to lack of beach facilities. The Gemini Beach has also been temporarily closed to the public since October 1 1998 because of the construction and renovation of beach facilities. The public are advised not to swim at these closed beaches.

In general, many beaches are likely to be more polluted than the grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Hence, bathers should avoid swimming at beaches, particularly Grades 3 and 4 beaches, for a few days after a storm or heavy rainfall. The public are also advised not to swim during the occurrence of a red tide and to check the notices at the beaches before swimming.

End/Friday, October 9, 1998

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