The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 17) 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*).
Seventeen beaches were rated as good (grade 1), 20 as fair (grade 2) and two as poor (grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Discovery Bay | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Middle Bay Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Golden Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lido Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Casam Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Trio Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Kiu Tsui Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been upgraded from grade 2 to grade 1; Castle Peak Beach from grade 3 to grade 2. Trio Beach has been changed from grade 1 to grade 2; Anglers' 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 website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
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