​The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 17) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
      
     Nine beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 22 as Fair (Grade 2), eight as Poor (Grade 3) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4).
      
Grade 1 beaches are:              

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	South Bay Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Kiu Tsui Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:   

Anglers' Beach*	Hap Mun Bay Beach*
Butterfly Beach*	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Pui O Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [non-gazetted beach]	Trio Beach
Golden Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach

 
 Grade 3 beaches are:  

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

 
Grade 4 beach is:   

St. Stephen's Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Stanley Main Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3, and St. Stephen's 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 of St. Stephen's Beach was due to the impact of the recent heavy rain," 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 17, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:00

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