The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 9) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 beaches.

     Sixteen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 22 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach    Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach               Middle Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach    Repulse Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach                    South Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach                St Stephen's Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach                           Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach                       Turtle Cove Beach
Lo So Shing Beach                     Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach                           Golden Beach
Approach Beach                         Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach                   Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach                           Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach                   Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach                    Pui O Beach
Casam Beach                             Shek O Beach
Castle Peak Beach                      Silver Mine Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach        Silverstrand Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach               Stanley Main Beach
* Discovery Bay                         Tong Fuk Beach

Grade 3 beach is:

Ting Kau 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. The 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 and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

     Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay Second Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach and Kadoorie Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2. Since its last grading (Grade 4) earlier this week, Deep Water Bay Beach has been upgraded to Grade 2.

      "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.

     "For Deep Water Bay Beach, we observed that the temporary deterioration of water quality was largely due to heavy rain. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beach has improved. We will continue to monitor the beach regularly."

     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.

Ends/Friday, September 9, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00

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