The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 28) 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-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and six as Fair (Grade 2).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Butterfly Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach* |
| Cafeteria New Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* | Pui O Beach* |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach* | Shek O Beach* |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach* | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay | St. Stephen's Beach |
| Golden Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Trio Beach* |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Approach Beach | Lido Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | Ting Kau Beach* |
Compared with the grading released last week, Lower Cheung Sha Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Silver Mine Bay 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, October 28, 2022