The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 30) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 14 as Fair (Grade 2) and three as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Big Wave Bay Beach*	Kiu Tsui Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lo So Shing Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Repulse Bay Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Shek O Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	St. Stephen's Beach
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach]	Stanley Main Beach*
Golden Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Trio Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach
Kadoorie Beach*

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Approach Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Butterfly Beach*	Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Pui O Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Hoi Mei Wan Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Lido Beach*	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Casam Beach*	Ting Kau Beach*
Silverstrand Beach*

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Butterfly Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Pui O Beach, Tong Fuk Beach and Upper Cheung Sha Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Casam Beach and Silverstrand Beach 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, 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 tropical cyclone 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.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).
 
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 1. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
 
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.

Ends/Friday, May 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:00

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