The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 13) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
 
     Twenty-eight beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 10 as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:           
 

Cafeteria New Beach	Kwun Yam Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Lo So Shing Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	South Bay Beach
Discovery Bay	St Stephen's Beach
Golden Beach	Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Ting Kau Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Trio Beach
Kadoorie Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:
 

Anglers' Beach	Castle Peak Beach
Approach Beach	Lido Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Butterfly Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Casam Beach	Pui O Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Kadoorie Beach and Ting Kau Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
 
     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.
 
     The EPD spokesman also warned that beaches were likely to be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
 
     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, October 13, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:08

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