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Author Archives: hksar gov

Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 15) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Twenty-six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 10 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:                   

Big Wave Bay Beach Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Lo So Shing Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach                                      Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach   South Bay Beach
Discovery Bay St Stephen’s Beach
Golden Beach Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Trio Beach
Kadoorie Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
 
Grade 2 beaches are:
Approach Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Butterfly Beach Lido Beach
Casam Beach Shek O Beach
Castle Peak Beach Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Ting Kau Beach
 
Grade 3 beaches are:
Anglers’ Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay has been upgraded from Grade 4 to Grade 1; Kadoorie Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 1.  Shek O Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Anglers’ Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan 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.  Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department’s websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. read more

East Asia

Government launches Green Bond Grant Scheme

     The Government announced today (June 15) the launch of the Green Bond Grant Scheme (GBGS), as promulgated in the 2018-19 Budget, to subsidise eligible green bond issuers in obtaining certification under the Green Finance Certification Scheme (GFCS) established by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency.

     “The GBGS aims to encourage green bond issuances to make use of Hong Kong’s competitive capital markets and our sophisticated financial and professional services. From a broader perspective, the enhanced transparency and accreditation standards of green financial products would be conducive to strengthening market confidence in green finance, and help establish Hong Kong as a global green finance hub,” a government spokesperson said.

     The full cost of obtaining certification under the GFCS for eligible green bond issuances will be granted, up to a maximum of $800,000 per bond issuance. First time and repeated issuers with their green bonds of any tenor issued and listed in Hong Kong, and denominated in any currency at a minimum size of $500 million (or the equivalent in foreign currency), are welcome to apply. The GBGS will be valid for a period of three years. Further details on the grant eligibility criteria are available in the Annex. read more

East Asia