Press Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department today (June 11) released the latest grading of water quality of 33 beaches open to the public, rating 19 as Good (Grade 1), 12 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. (S) indicates a beach that is equipped with a shark net.
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Kwun Yam Beach (S) |
Chung Hom Kok Beach (S) |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach (S) |
Deep Water Bay Beach (S) |
| Lo So Shing Beach (S) |
Hairpin Beach (S) |
| Pui O Beach (S) |
Repulse Bay Beach (S) |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
Shek O Beach (S) |
| Silver Mine Bay Beach (S) |
Stanley Main Beach (S) |
| Tong Fuk Beach (S) |
St. Stephen's Beach (S) |
| Upper Cheung Sha Beach (S) |
Turtle Cove Beach (S) |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach (S) |
Trio Beach (S) |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach (S) |
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Grade 2 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach (S) |
Big Wave Bay Beach (S) |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach (S) |
Middle Bay Beach (S) |
| Kiu Tsui Beach (S) |
South Bay Beach (S) |
| Butterfly Beach (S) |
Golden Beach (S) |
| Cafeteria New Beach (S) |
Discovery Bay* |
| Cafeteria Old Beach |
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach (S) |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Kadoorie Beach (S) |
Silverstrand Beach (S) |
Compared with the grading released last week, Silver Mine Bay Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, Butterfly Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2 while Big Wave Bay Beach and Kiu Tsui Beach have changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beach," a spokesman said.
Beach grades are published weekly before the weekend. The information may also be obtained from the department's homepage at www.epd.gov.hk or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Under the 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.
Grade 4 is assigned to beaches whose last E. coli reading exceeded a threshold figure, irrespective of the geometric mean. Swimmers are advised to avoid these beaches until the water quality improves.
Seven gazetted beaches - Anglers' Beach, Approach Beach, Ting Kau Beach, Casam Beach, Gemini Beaches, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido Beach - are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality.
The public is advised not to swim at these closed beaches.
The spokesman cautioned 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.
Ends/Friday, June 11, 2004
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