The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 30) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Twenty-nine beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 11 as Fair (Grade 2).
| Grade 1 beaches are: | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach* | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria New 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* | Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
| Deep Water Bay Beach* | South Bay Beach* |
| Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach | St. Stephen's Beach* |
| Golden Beach* | Stanley Main Beach* |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach* | Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach* | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach* | Trio Beach* |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | |
| Grade 2 beaches are: | |
| Anglers' Beach* | Hoi Mei Wan Beach* |
| Approach Beach* | Lido Beach* |
| Butterfly Beach* | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Silverstrand Beach* |
| Casam Beach* | Ting Kau Beach* |
| Castle Peak Beach | |
Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach, Golden Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Cafeteria Old Beach and Castle Peak Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
“The changes in beach water quality are generally within the normal range of natural fluctuation,” 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 tropical cyclone 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. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD’s dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 29 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 1. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.
Ends/Friday, October 30, 2026