The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 9) 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).
Twenty-five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 13 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Kadoorie Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach* | Kiu Tsui Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Lido Beach* |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay 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* |
| Discovery Bay | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Golden Beach* | Trio Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Middle Bay Beach | |
| Grade 3 beach is: | |
| Castle Peak Beach | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria Old Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach and Kadoorie Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Tai Po Lung Mei Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
“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 25 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk above, from September 5.
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Ends/Friday, September 9, 2022