The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 15) 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).
Eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2), 11 as Poor (Grade 3) and two as Very Poor (Grade 4).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Trio Beach* |
| Silverstrand Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Middle Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok 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 |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Grade 3 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Kadoorie Beach* |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lido Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | |
| Grade 4 beaches are: | |
| Castle Peak Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Tai Po Lung Mei Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, Chung Hom Kok Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 4 to Grade 3. Cafeteria Old Beach and Golden Beach have been changed from Grade 2 to Grade 3.
"We observed that the unstable weather in early July has led to poor water quality at beaches, but the recovery of water quality is slower than expected. The beaches in Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan Districts are still being affected by the unfavourable marine conditions in the region. 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 15, 2022