| Press
Release
Grading
of beach water quality released
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) today (November 15) released the latest
grading of 11 beaches on Hong Kong Island and three beaches in the
New Territories. Since the bathing season for other beaches in the
New Territories have ended on October 31, 2002, they are closed
to swimmers.
"Among them, 12 beaches are found to be in 'Good' condition (Grade
1) and two are 'Fair' (Grade 2)," a spokesman for the EPD said.
"Grade 1" beaches are
| Chung Hom Kok |
Shek O |
| Deep Water Bay |
South Bay |
| Hairpin |
St. Stephen's Beach |
| Middle Bay |
Stanley Main Beach |
| Repulse Bay |
Turtle Cove |
| Big Wave Bay |
Clear Water Bay Second Beach |
"Grade 2" beaches
are
| Golden Beach |
Silverstrand |
All these beaches have been installed with shark prevention nets.
"Comparing with the grading released last week, there is no change
in the beach grades of all 14 beaches.
"Beach grades are released every week before the weekend in order
to provide timely information for weekend beach-goers.
"The latest beach grading is also available from the EPD homepage
at http://www.epd.gov.hk or the EPD's beach hotline at 2511 6666,"
the spokesman said.
Under the grading system, beaches are classified into four grades
according to the level of E. coli in the water.
The beach grading is calculated on the basis of the geometric mean
of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
"Grade 4" would also be given to a beach when its last E. coli reading
exceeds a high figure irrespective of the geometric mean.
The spokesman said: "At present, three gazetted beaches, namely
Anglers', Approach and Ting Kau are closed to swimmers all year
round because of their poor water quality.
"The public are advised not to swim at these closed beaches,"
he added.
In general, many beaches are likely to be more polluted than the
beach 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.
The public are also advised to avoid swimming at the "Grade 4" beach
as far as possible until the water quality has improved.
End/Friday,
November 15, 2002
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