The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 18) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
 
     Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 21 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 

Chung Hom Kok Beach	Shek O Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	South Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Trio Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Repulse Bay Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach	Discovery Bay
Approach Beach	Golden Beach
Butterfly Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lido Beach
Casam Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Big Wave Bay Beach

Silverstrand Beach

     Compared with the grading released last week, Chung Hom Kok Beach, Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Shek O Beach, Stanley Main Beach and Trio Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Approach Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Big Wave Bay Beach has been changed 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 the 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. 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, August 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:06

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