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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 25) released the latest grading of water quality of 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Twenty-two beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), fifteen as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
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Cafeteria New Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Golden Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Kadoorie Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
Lower Cheung Sha Beach p>
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Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Shek O Beach
South Bay Beach
St Stephen's Beach
Stanley Main Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Trio Beach
Turtle Cove 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
Butterfly Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Casam Beach
Castle Peak Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
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Clear Water Bay First Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Discovery Bay
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Lido Beach
Pui O Beach
Ting Kau Beach
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Grade 3 beach is:
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Middle Bay Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1; Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
“Since the Tropical Cyclone Hato has brought heavy rain and adverse weather to Hong Kong on August 23, the beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested. Bathers are suggested to avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone, storm or heavy rainfall,” the EPD spokesman said.
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.
Due to urgent clearance work after the Tropical Cyclone Hato and maintenance of shark prevention nets, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has earlier announced the temporary closure of several beaches until further notice. Red flags have been hoisted at these beaches. Beach-goers are advised to check the latest situation and not to swim at these beaches.
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.
Ends/Friday, August 25, 2017
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