The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 26) 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*).
Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and six as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Trio Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Lido Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Golden Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | South Bay Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Casam Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay and Upper Cheung Sha Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Lido Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Kwun Yam Beach has 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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