The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 3) 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), 19 as Fair (Grade 2), six as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Deep Water Bay Beach*	Shek O Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	South Bay Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach	St. Stephen's Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Stanley Main Beach*
Lo So Shing Beach	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Middle Bay Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Repulse Bay Beach*	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*	Golden Beach*
Butterfly Beach*	Hap Mun Bay Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Pui O Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Trio Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach]

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach*	Lido Beach*
Casam Beach*	Ting Kau Beach*

 
Grade 4 beach is:

Silverstrand Beach*

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Silverstrand Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 4.
 
     "The changes in beach water quality are generally within the normal range of natural fluctuation, while the deterioration of water quality at Silverstrand Beach was due to the impact of the heavy rain that occurred earlier this week," 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, July 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:00

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