25 HK beaches get ‘good’ water quality rating
The Observatory urged the public to avoid prolonged exposure under the sun.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) yesterday (May 25) released the latest grading of water quality for 37 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
Twenty-five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 11 as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | |
| Discovery Bay | |
| Golden Beach | |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | |
| Kadoorie Beach | |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | |
| Kwun Yam Beach | |
| Lo So Shing Beach | |
| Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Middle Bay Beach |
| Pui O Beach |
| Repulse Bay Beach |
| Shek O 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 |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers’ Beach | |
| Approach Beach | |
| Big Wave Bay Beach | |
| Butterfly Beach | |
| Cafeteria New Beach | |
| Cafeteria Old Beach |
| Casam Beach |
| Castle Peak Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach |
| Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
Grade 3 beaches are:
| Lido Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Golden Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Pui O Beach, Shek O Beach and Stanley Main Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers’ Beach, Approach Beach, Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
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.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the 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 websites on Beach Water Quality (www.beachwq.gov.hk and www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.