
Grading of beach water quality released
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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 12) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 19 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* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach] | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Golden Beach* |
| Approach Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Pui O Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Trio Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* |
Grade 3 beach is:
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Hung Shing Yeh Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Big Wave Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Pui O Beach and Trio Beach have 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 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 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 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, June 12, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:00
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