Author Archives: hksar gov

     Four red tides have been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 24).
 
     Three of the red tides were spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on May 21 at Approach Beach, Lido Beach and Casam Beach, and Ting Kau Beach in Tsuen Wan. These three red tides have dissipated.
 
     The fourth red tide was spotted by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) on May 21 in the western waters of Hong Kong (including Ma Wan Fish Culture Zone). This red tide still persists.
 
     No associated death of fish has been reported so far in all red tides.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, “All four red tides were formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters. According to overseas studies, Phaeocystis globosa can produce foam that may cause harmful effects to fish.”
 
     The AFCD urged mariculturists at the Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD’s proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public. read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 24) 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*).   
        
     Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and five as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Shek O Beach
Discovery Bay	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	St Stephen’s Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach
Lo So Shing Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Pui O Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Approach Beach	Golden Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lido Beach
Casam Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

Anglers’ Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach

 
*Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach, Trio Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Big Wave Bay Beach, Butterfly Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.  
     
     “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. read more

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, spent the last day of his visit in Singapore today (May 24) by meeting with local officials and representatives from relevant organisations.      … read more

     â€‹The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (May 24) visited the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in Tokyo and met with the State Minister, Ms Keiko Nagaoka, to introduce Hong Kong’s latest developments in the areas of culture and sports development. He also invited senior officials from the ministry to attend the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum, which will be held in Hong Kong later this year.
 
     Mr Lau also met with the Chief Operating Officer of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mr Yukihiko Nunomura, to learn more about preparations for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games next year. In addition, he visited the Japan Sport Council, the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences and the Japan Foundation.
 
     Tonight, Mr Lau will attend the “Eco-Huqin Sextet Tokyo (Osaka) Concert with the HKCO Huqin Principals” by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra at Tokyo Oji Hall. Tomorrow morning (May 25) he will visit local museums, and will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon.

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The following is issued on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project:      The Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works… read more