The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 5) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).
Eleven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 17 as Fair (Grade 2) and 11 as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Butterfly Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Golden Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, South Bay Beach and Upper Cheung Sha 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 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 storm 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 department's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
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