Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 24) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     
        
     Twenty-three beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 10 as Fair (Grade 2) and six as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

Big Wave Bay Beach	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach	Middle Bay Beach
Chung Hom Kok Beach	Repulse Bay Beach
Clear Water Bay First Beach	Shek O Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	South Bay Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	St Stephen’s Beach
Discovery Bay	Stanley Main Beach
Hap Mun Bay Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Hung Shing Yeh Beach	Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach	Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers’ Beach	Kadoorie Beach
Butterfly Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Pui O Beach
Castle Peak Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach
Golden Beach	Silverstrand Beach

 
 

Grade 3 beaches are:
Approach Beach		Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Cafeteria New Beach		Lido Beach
Casam Beach		Ting Kau Beach

 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely 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.
      
     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 EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: In view of the latest situation of COVID-19, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced on July 13 that all beaches would be temporarily closed from July 15 until further notice.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service. read more

     To align with the special work arrangements announced by the Government to stop COVID-19 from further spreading in the community, the Department of Justice announced today (July 24) that the following basic and essential services wi… read more

     â€‹In view of the critical situation of COVID-19, all gazetted beaches of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) have been temporarily closed. Lifesaving services at the beaches have also been suspended.

     An LCSD spokesman today (July 24) strongly appealed to members of the public again to heed the Government’s advice to stay at home as much as possible and not to go swimming or sunbathing at closed beaches in order to prevent crowds from gathering, reduce the chances of spreading the virus in the community and avoid accidents.

     The LCSD has strengthened the cordoning off of beaches to prevent the public from entering. Apart from showering facilities and changing rooms, toilets at beaches have also been closed. While some beach areas may not be completely blocked off due to terrain constraints, the LCSD urges the public to be self-disciplined, and not to enter the beach areas or attempt to damage venue facilities.

     The spokesman stressed that entering a closed beach is an offence and offenders may face prosecution. Staff of the LCSD will step up patrols of the beaches concerned. Enforcement action will be taken as appropriate if the advice is ignored. Police assistance will be sought if there is any action involving criminal damage. read more

     In view of the extension of the special work arrangements for government departments to August 2, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (July 24) that from July 27 it will continue to suspend the provision of all of its public services, except for the following:
 

Offices	Opening hours
Central Enquiry Counter (only for enquiries relating to tax clearance for taxpayers leaving Hong Kong)	From 9am to noon and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Central Telephone Enquiry	From 9am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Business Registration Office	From 9am to noon and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday*
Stamp Office	From 9am to noon and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday

* For service users who have made online appointments for counter services before 9am on a day, please go to the Business Registration Office at 9am or 10am on the day. For those who have made online appointments for counter services after 4pm on a day, please go to the Business Registration Office at 2pm on the day.

     The department appeals to members of the public for their understanding that the above services will only be provided at a much reduced scale and that services in all other areas will not be provided at the service counters. They should also be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served. The department encourages the public to use its electronic services to handle their tax affairs as much as possible. A list of such services can be found in the department’s website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/ese/index.htm.

     The department further announced that deadlines for tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications, and submission of tax returns and information that fall between July 20 and August 2 will be automatically extended to August 3.

     The department will review the situation and make further announcements as necessary.  read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 24, 2020 is 106.8 (up 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more