The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 23) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay*).
Twenty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Casam Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Golden Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, Approach Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Silverstrand 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, including 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 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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