The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 7) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).

     Thirty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and eight as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Big Wave Bay Beach*	Lo So Shing Beach
Butterfly Beach*	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach*	Middle Bay Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	South Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	St Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay	Stanley Main Beach*
Golden Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Trio Beach*
Kadoorie Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Kwun Yam Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Lido Beach*
Casam Beach*	Lower Cheung Sha Beach*
Castle Peak Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Hoi Mei Wan Beach	Ting Kau Beach*

     Compared with the grading released last week, Butterfly Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Silver Mine Bay 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, namely 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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 25 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from September 5.

Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.

Ends/Friday, October 7, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:00

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