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Press Release
Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 21) released the latest grading of water quality of 33 beaches.
Thirty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and three were rated as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
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Big Wave Bay Beach
Butterfly Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Discovery Bay*
Golden Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
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Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Pui O Beach
Repulse Bay Beach
Shek O Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach
Silverstrand Beach
South Bay Beach
St Stephen's Beach
Stanley Main Beach
Tong Fuk Beach
Trio Beach
Turtle Cove Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
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Grade 2 beaches are:
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Cafeteria Old Beach
Castle Peak Beach
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Kadoorie Beach
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The beach with an asterisk is a non-gazetted beach. All gazetted beaches are equipped with shark nets.
A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's website on Beach Water Quality or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to 1. Cafeteria Old Beach, Castle Peak Beach and Kadoorie Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to 2.
"The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
Under our 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.
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.
People are advised not to swim at the closed beaches.
The EPD spokesman warned 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.
Meanwhile, the department has already published a report entitled "Beach Water Quality in Hong Kong 2010". The report summarizes the water quality of gazetted beaches in 2010 and is accessible at a dedicated website and EPD's website.
Ends/Thursday, April 21, 2011
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