Grading of beach water quality released
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Twenty-two beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cafeteria New Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Golden Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | South Bay Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Trio Beach |
| Lo So Shing Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Clear Water Bay First Beach |
| Approach Beach | Deep Water Bay Beach |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Discovery Bay |
| Butterfly Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Lido Beach |
| Casam Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach |
Grade 3 beach is:
| Silverstrand Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach, Middle Bay Beach and Turtle Cove Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Big Wave Bay Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
"Since Tropical Cyclone Hato brought heavy rain and adverse weather to Hong Kong on August 23, the beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone, a storm or heavy rainfall," 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.
Due to urgent clearance work after Tropical Cyclone Hato and maintenance of shark prevention nets, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has earlier announced the temporary closure of several beaches until further notice. Red flags have been hoisted at these beaches. Beach-goers are advised to check the latest situation and not to swim at these beaches.
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, August 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:53
Issued at HKT 17:53
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