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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 8) released the latest grading of water quality of 39 beaches.
Eleven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 26 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
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Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
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Lo So Shing Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Trio Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
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Grade 2 beaches are:
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Anglers' Beach
Approach Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Casam Beach
Castle Peak Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
* Discovery Bay
Golden Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
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Kadoorie Beach
Lido Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Pui O Beach
Shek O Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach
Silverstrand Beach
South Bay Beach
St Stephen's Beach
Stanley Main Beach
Turtle Cove Beach
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Grade 3 beaches are:
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Butterfly Beach
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Ting Kau Beach
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The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. All gazetted beaches are equipped with shark nets.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. 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 or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, South Bay Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2; Butterfly Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. Since their last grading (Grade 4) on Thursday (July 7), Discovery Bay and Silverstrand Beach have been upgraded to Grade 2.
“The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” the EPD spokesman said.
“For Discovery Bay and Silverstrand Beach, we observed that temporary deterioration of water quality was largely due to heavy rain. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beaches has improved. We will continue to monitor these beaches regularly.”
Under our 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.
Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose last E. coli reading exceeded a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.
People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.
The EPD spokesman warned that many beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
Ends/Friday, July 8, 2016
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