The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 7) 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*).
Eighteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 as Fair (Grade 2) and five 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 Second Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | St Stephen's 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 |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Butterfly Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Lido Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Silverstrand Beach |
| Golden Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Approach Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach and Clear Water Bay First Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Approach Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach, Castle Peak Beach and Ting Kau 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 websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
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