The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 18) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Fourteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 23 as Fair (Grade 2), two as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Repulse Bay Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Shek O Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	South Bay Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach	St. Stephen's Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Lo So Shing Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Middle Bay Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*	Golden Beach*
Approach Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach*	Lido Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Casam Beach*	Pui O Beach*
Castle Peak Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Stanley Main Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Ting Kau Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach]

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Hoi Mei Wan Beach

Trio Beach

 
Grade 4 beach is:

Big Wave Bay Beach*

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Chung Hom Kok Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, Trio Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 4.
 
     "The deterioration of water quality in Big Wave Bay Beach was due to the heavy rain throughout the week, while the changes in other beaches 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/Thursday, June 18, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:00

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