Press Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department today (June 25) released the latest grading of water quality of 33 beaches open to the public, rating 24 as Good (Grade 1) and nine as Fair (Grade 2).
The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. (S) indicates a beach that is equipped with a shark net.
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (S) |
Deep Water Bay Beach (S) |
| Kwun Yam Beach (S) |
Hairpin Beach (S) |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach (S) |
Middle Bay Beach (S) |
| Lo So Shing Beach (S) |
Repulse Bay Beach (S) |
| Pui O Beach (S) |
Shek O Beach (S) |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
South Bay Beach (S) |
| Silver Mine Bay Beach (S) |
Stanley Main Beach (S) |
| Tong Fuk Beach (S) |
St. Stephen's Beach (S) |
| Upper Cheung Sha Beach (S) |
Turtle Cove Beach (S) |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach (S) |
Cafeteria Old Beach |
| Clear Water BaySecond Beach (S) |
Golden Beach (S) |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach (S) |
Trio Beach (S) |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Butterfly Beach (S) |
Big Wave Bay Beach (S) |
| Cafeteria New Beach (S) |
Chung Hom Kok Beach (S) |
| Kadoorie Beach (S) |
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (S) |
| Kiu Tsui Beach (S) |
Silverstrand Beach (S) |
| Discovery Bay* |
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Compared with the grading released last week, Middle Bay Beach, South Bay Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach and Golden Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 and Silverstrand Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2, while Big Wave Bay Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," a spokesman said.
Beach grades are published weekly before the weekend. The information may also be obtained from the department's homepage at www.epd.gov.hk or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Under the 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.
Seven gazetted beaches - Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Casam Beach, Gemini Beaches, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido Beach - are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality.
The public is advised not to swim at these closed beaches.
The spokesman cautioned 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, June 25, 2004 |
