The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 21) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).

     Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 11 as Fair (Grade 2) and 13 as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	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	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Butterfly Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach
Golden Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach	Deep Water Bay Beach
Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach**	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lido Beach
Casam Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach

* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
** Big Wave Bay Beach has been temporarily closed since June 4 due to the urgent works by Drainage Services Department at a nearby stream. The beach will be closed until further notice.

      Compared with the grading released last week, Kwun Yam Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Graded 1; Butterfly Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2; Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 4 to Grade 3. Cafeteria Old Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Kadoorie Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have 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," 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. The 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, June 21, 2019
Issued at HKT 15:00

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