The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 31) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches and one non-gazetted beach (Discovery Bay) that are open for swimming.
        
     Twenty beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 18 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:        

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Shek O Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Castle Peak Beach from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Silverstrand Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Anglers' Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3. 
      
     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
      
     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.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island next Monday (September 3).

Road closure
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The layby on westbound Lung Wo Road outside City Hall will be suspended from 9am on September 1 to 1pm on September 3.

The following roads will be closed from 5.30am to 11am on September 3:

– The northern section of Edinburgh Place; and
– The western kerbside lane of the eastern section of Edinburgh Place.

Traffic diversions
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Traffic along the eastern section of northbound Edinburgh Place cannot turn left to the northern section of westbound Edinburgh Place from 5.30am to 11am on September 3.

Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements this Sunday (September 2) to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island.

From 5am to 12 noon

Road closure
—————–

– The slow lane of southbound Man Yiu Street near eastbound Yiu Sing Street;
– Yiu Sing Street;
– The slow lane of southbound Man Yiu Street near eastbound Lung Wo Road;
– eastbound Lung Wo Road; and
– Road A2.

Traffic diversions
———————-

– Traffic along southbound Man Yiu Street cannot turn left to Yiu Sing Street;
– Traffic along southbound Man Yiu Street cannot turn left to eastbound Lung Wo Road;
– Traffic along eastbound Man Po Street cannot enter Yiu Sing Street;
– Traffic along eastbound Man Cheung Street cannot enter eastbound Lung Wo Road; and
– Vehicles on eastbound Lung Wo Road heading for Road A2 will be diverted via southbound Man Yiu Street, eastbound and southbound Connaught Place, eastbound Connaught Road Central, eastbound Harcourt Road, northbound Tim Mei Avenue, eastbound Lung Wui Road, northbound Lung Wo Road, and eastbound and northbound Road P2.

Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precinct of the special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior notice.

Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The Education Bureau today (August 31) announced the re-appointment of Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai as the Chairman of the Committee on Home-School Co-operation (CHSC) and Ms Emily Mok Fung-yee as a member of the committee. Ms Anny Wong Shui-kuk is appointed as a new member of the CHSC. The tenure of their appointments is two years with effect from September 1, 2018.
 
     "We believe that with Mr Tong's rich experience in community service and enthusiasm in promoting home-school co-operation as well as the concerted efforts of other members, the CHSC will continue with its achievements in strengthening home-school co-operation," a spokesman for the Education Bureau said.
 
     Established in 1993 as an advisory body, the CHSC's main roles include promoting home-school co-operation and advising the Education Bureau, other government departments and non-government organisations, on ways to promote parent involvement in education.
 
     The CHSC is also tasked to encourage the setting up of parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and Federations of PTAs (FPTAs). To date, all government and aided schools have set up their PTAs and 18 districts have set up their FPTAs.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 31) released the 2016 greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for Hong Kong.

     Hong Kong's total GHG emissions in 2016 amounted to 41.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing a slight increase of about 0.5 per cent compared with 2015, which was lower than the population growth of about 0.6 per cent over the same period. Our per capita GHG emissions and carbon intensity were about 5.7 tonnes and 0.017 kg CO2-e per Hong Kong Dollar GDP respectively. Electricity generation was the major source of emissions, amounting to 27.9 million tonnes or 66.5 per cent of the total. Other major emission sources were the transport sector (17.9 per cent) and waste management (5.9 per cent).

     Details of the 2016 GHG inventory can be found on the EPD website (www.climateready.gov.hk/page.php?id=23&lang=1).