The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 29) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Golden Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Discovery Bay |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Casam Beach | Lido Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido 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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