The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 3) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Twenty-two beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

Cafeteria New 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
Deep Water Bay Beach	South Bay Beach
Golden Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Approach Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Lido Beach
Butterfly Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Casam Beach	Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Discovery Bay

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Castle Peak Beach

Ting Kau Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Middle Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Casam Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. 
      
     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, an 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. 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 3, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:00

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