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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 29) released the latest grading of water quality of 39 beaches.
Thirteen beaches were rated as good (grade 1), 21 as fair (grade 2) and five as poor (grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach Kiu Tsui Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Casam Beach Pui O Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach Silverstrand Beach
* Discovery Bay Stanley Main Beach
Golden Beach Trio Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Kadoorie Beach
Grade 3 beaches are:
Approach Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach Ting Kau Beach
Castle Peak Beach
The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. All gazetted beaches are equipped with shark nets.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk or www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Pui O Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been changed from grade 1 to grade 2; and Butterfly Beach from grade 2 to grade 3.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.
Noting that a suspected red tide has recently affected Turtle Cove Beach in Southern District, the EPD spokesman advised the public to check the latest update from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before swimming.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades 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.
Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose last E coli reading exceeded a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.
People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.
The EPD spokesman warned that many beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, the department has published the report entitled "Beach Water Quality in Hong Kong 2015". The report summarises the water quality of gazetted beaches in 2015 and is accessible online at www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, April 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:04
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