The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (August 16) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 22 as Fair (Grade 2), and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

 
Grade 3 beach is:

 
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Chung Hom Kok Beach has been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Pui O 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, 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, 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 tropical cyclone 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 EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application (available for download from: www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQApp) or the dedicated beach water quality forecast page (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast) on the EPD's beach thematic website.
 
Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 21 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from June 1. Due to the damage caused to the footpaths leading to Chung Hom Kok Beach by landslides, the beach is temporarily closed until further notice. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).
 
Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on August 15 to noon today (August 16), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 134 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 76 843 samples of food imported from Japan (including 49 303 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 17 798 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, visited the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) this morning (August 16) and attended the co-operation agreement signing ceremony on the gift of a pair of giant pandas from the Central Government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The agreement was jointly signed by the Party Committee Secretary and Deputy Director of the CCRCGP, Mr Lu Yongbin, and the Chairman of the Ocean Park Hong Kong, Mr Paulo Pong, on the arrival arrangements of the giant pandas, as well as on the collaboration between the two parties about the rearing and caring, breeding research and popular science education.

     Mr Yeung arrived in Sichuan yesterday afternoon (August 15) and visited the Eastern Suburb Memory, a zone for cultural and creative industries in downtown Chengdu, to learn about its operation and how it has been developed into an international stage for fashion and cultural industries. Located in the Chenghua District of Chengdu and originally named Eastern Music Park, it was built on the site of the former state-run Hongguang Electronic Tube Factory, and has now been turned into a multicultural zone for a variety of cultural activities including music, arts, drama and photography. Major attractions, such as the Industrial and Cultural Square, the Old Train Display and the World of Pandas, appeal to the younger generation interested in arts and culture. The CCRCGP also hosted a dinner for the HKSAR delegation.

     Mr Yeung will depart from Sichuan for Hong Kong this afternoon.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) confirmed cases, the spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital made the following update today (August 16):
 
     Following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient, a 75-year-old male in the surgical ward, was identified as a carrier of VRE. The patient is now being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.
 
     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 16) that due to inclement weather, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.