Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 12) 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).
Thirteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 19 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Middle Bay Beach | Trio Beach** |
| Repulse Bay Beach* | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Shek O Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| South Bay Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach** | Hap Mun Bay Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach** | Kiu Tsui Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Kwun Yam Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Pui O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Silverstrand Beach** |
| Discovery Bay |
| Grade 3 beaches are: | ||
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach* | |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach | |
| Casam Beach* | Ting Kau Beach** | |
| Castle Peak 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: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on June 10 that six gazetted beaches (marked with two asterisks above) will reopen on June 13. The 15 gazetted beaches (marked with a single asterisk above) have reopened since May 23. Meanwhile, the other beaches will remain temporarily closed until further notice.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.