Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 27) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
      
     Twenty-six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 13 as Fair (Grade 2), and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:           

Butterfly Beach* Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach* Middle Bay Beach*
Cafeteria Old Beach Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach* South Bay Beach*
Golden Beach* St Stephen's Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach* Stanley Main Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach* Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Kadoorie Beach* Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Trio Beach*
Kwun Yam Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach* Discovery Bay
Approach Beach Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach* Lido Beach*
Casam Beach* Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Castle Peak Beach Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* Ting Kau Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*  

Grade 3 beach is:

Silver Mine Bay Beach*  

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Kadoorie Beach and Kwun Yam Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
      
     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, an 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.
      
     In line with the vision to develop Hong Kong into a smart city, the EPD launched the Beach Water Quality Forecast System on August 15 to provide daily water quality forecasts for all gazetted beaches in Hong Kong that are open for swimming, to supplement the existing beach water quality monitoring programme and further enhance services to the public (see Note 3). Members of the public can obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches 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: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 26 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 28. Stanley Main Beach is temporarily closed for clearance and urgent repair works. 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 the non-gazetted beach in Discovery Bay which has no lifeguard service.

Note 3: The EPD launched the Beach Water Quality Forecast System on August 15, 2023. For the press release, please visit www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202308/15/P2023081400345.htm.




Effective Exchange Rate Index

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, October 27, 2023 is 106.7 (same as yesterday's index).




Missing woman in Hung Hom located

     A woman who went missing in Hung Hom has been located.

     Leung Tsui-ling, aged 48, went missing after she left her residence on Ha Heung Road on June 13 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on June 14.

     The woman was located on Argyle Street, Mong Kok yesterday (October 26) afternoon. She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.




Special traffic arrangements for race meeting in Happy Valley

     Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley on October 29 (Sunday). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp outside the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

1. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
– Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of HKJC;
– Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
– Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

– Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
– Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
– Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
– Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

– Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
– Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
– Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
– Canal Road East; and
– The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm during day racing, from 4.30pm to 11.59pm during evening racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm during night racing.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the above affected areas will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.




FEHD orders two restaurants in Yau Tong and Tsuen Wan to suspend business for 14 days

     â€‹The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a restaurant in Yau Tong and another in Tsuen Wan to suspend business for 14 days, as the operators repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by illegally extending their food business areas.
      
     The two restaurants, which are located at Shop B166-B170 on the lower ground floor of Ka Wah Arcade in Yau Tong Centre and on the ground floor of 30 Sam Pei Square in Tsuen Wan, were ordered to suspend business from today (October 27) to November 9.
      
     "Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant in Yau Tong this July. A total fine of $6,400 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. While in July and August this year, two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant in Tsuen Wan. A total fine of $5,000 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day business suspension for these two restaurants," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
      
     The licensee of the restaurant in Yau Tong had a record of two convictions for the same offence in July 2021 and June last year. A total fine of $5,200 was levied and 30 demerit points were registered. While in this January and April, the licensee of the restaurant in Tsuen Wan had a record of two convictions for the same offence. A total fine of $4,500 was levied and 30 demerit points were registered. The breaches led to business suspensions of both restaurants for seven days in last August and this June respectively.
      
     The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
      
     Licensed food premises are required to exhibit a sign, at a conspicuous place near the main entrance, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD's website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/index.html).