Grading of beach water quality released
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Twenty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 17 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Deep Water Bay 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 | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Approach Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lido Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Casam Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Golden 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, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Clear Water Bay First 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, including Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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, August 30, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:00
Issued at HKT 17:00
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