The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 26) 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), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and six as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:
 

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Discovery Bay	Tong Fuk Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Trio Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach	Lido Beach
Butterfly Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Pui O Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Shek O Beach
Golden Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Kadoorie Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	South Bay Beach

Grade 3 beaches are:
 

Approach Beach	Casam Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Ting Kau Beach

* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

     Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay and Upper Cheung Sha Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Lido Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kwun Yam Beach has 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. 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, July 26, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:00

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