The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 16) 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).
Thirty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and nine as Fair (Grade 2).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Cafeteria New Beach* | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Trio Beach* |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lido Beach* | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Kwun Yam Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Pui O Beach, Silver Mine Bay Beach, Silverstrand Beach and Tai Po Lung Mei Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Approach Beach and Cafeteria Old Beach have 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 16, 2022