The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 6) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 as Fair (Grade 2) and six as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are: 
                

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Pui O Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Approach Beach	Deep Water Bay Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Golden Beach
Butterfly Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Casam Beach	Shek O Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Stanley Main Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach	Lido Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach	Ting Kau Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Casam Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Big Wave Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Kwun Yam Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; and Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach and Ting Kau 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," an 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.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected 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 6, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:00

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