The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 2) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).
Nineteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 13 as Fair (Grade 2) and seven as Poor (Grade 3).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Pui O Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Repulse Bay Beach* | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Butterfly Beach* | Kadoorie Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Kiu Tsui Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Shek O Beach* |
| Discovery Bay | Ting Kau Beach |
| Golden Beach* | |
| Grade 3 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Cafeteria Old Beach, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, Castle Peak Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.
“The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches,” an EPD spokesman said.
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, the 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 storm 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.
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 16 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 2.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Ends/Thursday, June 2, 2022