Grading of beach water quality released
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Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 16 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Casam Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lido Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Golden Beach |
| Approach Beach | Kadoorie Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| * Discovery Bay | 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. 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, Cafeteria New Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Lido Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Pui O Beach and Repulse Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," the EPD spokesman said.
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, October 14, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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