The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 8) 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).
Seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 20 as Fair (Grade 2), nine as Poor (Grade 3) and three as Very Poor (Grade 4).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach* |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Silverstrand Beach* | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | South Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | St Stephen's Beach |
| Golden Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Grade 3 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | |
| Grade 4 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Middle Bay Beach, South Bay Beach, St. Stephen's Beach, Tong Fuk Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 4.
"We observed that the heavy rain and adverse weather brought to Hong Kong this week by Tropical Cyclone Chaba has affected the beach water quality recovery in the region in late June. We will continue to closely monitor 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 20 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from June 30.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, July 8, 2022