The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 12) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Fifteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 22 as Fair (Grade 2), and three as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach | South Bay Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Trio Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Approach Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Middle Bay Beach |
| Butterfly Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Shek O Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Lido Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Butterfly Beach, Golden Beach, Lido Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach and Ting Kau Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
"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, 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.
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 tropical cyclone 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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.
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