The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 16) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 22 as Fair (Grade 2), and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Repulse Bay Beach* |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach* | Golden Beach* |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Kadoorie Beach |
| Butterfly Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Middle Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
Grade 3 beach is:
| Pui O Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Chung Hom Kok Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Pui O 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, 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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