Marine Water Quality Monitoring

Mai Po

Hydrological/Physical Notes of the site:

The Ramsar Site is a natural shallow estuarine bay lying within the Yuen Long Basin. The average water depth is about 2.9 m and the mean tidal range is 1.4m. Inner Deep Bay receives water and sediments from both Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The sediment forming the core part of the intertidal mudflat is predominantly clay and silt.

The climate of Hong Kong is sub-tropical and under the strong influence of monsoons. Rainfall occurs mainly from April to September. Salinity of the intertidal water shows a clear trend dependent on the seasonality. During the wet season from late spring to summer, salinity drop and sometimes almost freshwater due to the increase in rainfall, the values tend to increase from late summer and approach highest in winter/early spring during the dry season.

The site helps to alleviate flood problems in the northwest of the territory and the mangal are of value in stabilizing the shore of the bay.

General Information about Mai Po Ramsar Site

• Geographical Notes of the site:
• • Site:
  • Mai Po Inner Deep Bay
  • Designation Date:
  • 4 September 1995
  • Coordinates:
  • 22°30'114°02'E
  • Elevation:
  • 0m from sea level
  • Area:
  • 1540 ha.
  • Location:
  • On the northwest of the New Territories of Hong Kong