The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 20) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming, and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay*).   
   
     Twenty-two beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 16 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 First Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Shek O Beach
Discovery Bay	South Bay Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	St Stephen's Beach
Hung Shing Yeh 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	Golden Beach
Approach Beach	Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Big Wave Bay Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach	Lido Beach
Cafeteria New Beach	Pui O Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Casam Beach	Silverstrand Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Ting Kau Beach

 
Grade 3 beach is:

Castle Peak Beach

  
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, including Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), 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.
      
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could 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 website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

Ends/Friday, September 20, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:00

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