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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (June 13) that four beaches in Tsuen Wan, namely Lido Beach, Casam Beach, Approach Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach, will be reopened for swimming from Wednesday (June 15) following the improvement in water quality.
Lido Beach, Casam Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach have been closed since 2003, while Approach Beach has been closed since the mid-1990s due to poor water quality. Provision of lifeguard services at these beaches has been ceased since then.
"According to the tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Department, the water quality of these four beaches has met the water quality standards for bathing beaches and is considered suitable for swimming," an LCSD spokesman said.
The improvement in water quality at those beaches in Tsuen Wan is due to the sewerage improvement works carried out by the Government over the years, and the commissioning of the Advance Disinfection Facilities at the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works on March 1 last year.
As with other gazetted LCSD beaches, the resumed lifeguard services at the above four beaches will operate daily from 9am to 6pm. The services will be extended to 8am through 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the peak swimming season from June to August.
The spokesman noted that the water quality of the other three beaches in Tsuen Wan - Anglers' Beach, Gemini Beaches and Ting Kau Beach - has also improved. Due to the need to carry out improvement works in these beaches, they will be reopened for public use after the completion of the works.
"The facilities of these beaches are either worn out or inadequate, and some of them lack lifeguard lookouts and basic facilities. Substantial improvement works have to be carried out in these beaches to bring their standards up to par with those of similar LCSD facilities," the spokesman added.
The spokesman appealed to members of the public to pay due attention to water safety when swimming, to swim only at beaches with lifeguards on duty and to stay out of water when the red flag is hoisted.
For details on LCSD beaches, please visit the department's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/.
Ends/Monday, June 13, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:04
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