The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 26) released the latest grading of water quality of 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).

     Twenty-three beaches were rated as good (grade 1), 15 as fair (grade 2) and one as poor (grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:

Cafeteria New Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Pui O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach
Lido Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach	Golden Beach
Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach	Shek O Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Casam Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach

 
Grade 3 beach is:

Castle Peak Beach

 
*Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Shek O Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from grade 1 to grade 2.

     "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 website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Ends/Friday, April 26, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:00

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