Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 17) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).
Twenty-five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 10 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Silverstrand 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 |
| Middle Bay Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lido Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Butterfly Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely 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.
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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Note 1: To tie in with the response level under the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance having been raised to the Emergency Response Level and to encourage people to avoid gathering, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that all beaches will continue to be temporarily closed until further notice.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.