The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 18) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay*).
Twenty-nine beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 10 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Big Wave Bay Beach | Lo So Shing Beach |
| Casam Beach | Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
| Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach | Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach |
| Chung Hom Kok Beach | Middle Bay Beach |
| Clear Water Bay First Beach | Pui O Beach |
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | Repulse Bay Beach |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | Silverstrand Beach |
| Discovery Bay | South Bay Beach |
| Golden Beach | St Stephen's Beach |
| Hap Mun Bay Beach | Stanley Main Beach |
| Hung Shing Yeh Beach | Tong Fuk Beach |
| Kadoorie Beach | Trio Beach |
| Kiu Tsui Beach | Turtle Cove Beach |
| Kwun Yam Beach | Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
| Lido Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
| Anglers' Beach | Castle Peak Beach |
| Approach Beach | Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
| Butterfly Beach | Shek O Beach |
| Cafeteria New Beach | Silver Mine Bay Beach |
| Cafeteria Old Beach | Ting Kau Beach |
* Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.
Compared with the grading released last week, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
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.
While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an 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 website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
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