Grading of beach water quality released
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Twelve beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 as Fair (Grade 2) and 10 as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Discovery Bay | South Bay Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Kwun Yam Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Golden Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Trio Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Approach Beach | Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Lido Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Casam Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Deep Water Bay Beach, Kwun Yam Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Tong Fuk Beach and Trio Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Casam Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach, Lido Beach and Pui O 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.
"For Approach Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach and Ting Kau Beach, they have been upgraded to Grade 3 since their last grading (Grade 4). We observed that their temporary deterioration of water quality was due to heavy rain. The latest samples taken show that the water quality of the beaches has improved."
The EPD spokesman also 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.
Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the geometric mean of the E coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions. Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose E coli readings show abnormalities that may affect bathers' health. Bathers should avoid swimming at these beaches until their water quality improves.
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.
Ends/Friday, July 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:08
Issued at HKT 17:08
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