Tag Archives: China

image_pdfimage_print

Grading of beach water quality released

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 20) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
 
     Twenty-four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

Big Wave Bay Beach* Lo So Shing Beach
Cafeteria New Beach Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach Repulse Bay Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* Shek O Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach South Bay Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach* St. Stephen’s Beach
Golden Beach* Stanley Main Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach* Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach* Tong Fuk Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach Trio Beach
Kwun Yam Beach Turtle Cove Beach
Lido Beach* Upper Cheung Sha Beach
 
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers’ Beach* Kadoorie Beach
Approach Beach Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Butterfly Beach* Middle Bay Beach
Castle Peak Beach Pui O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* Silverstrand Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach] Ting Kau Beach*
Hoi Mei Wan Beach  
 
Grade 3 beach is:
Casam Beach*  
 
     Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
 
     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 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 EPD’s dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).
 
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. 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 has no lifesaving service. read more

East Asia

HKMA and PBoC launch Payment Connect (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced today (June 20) the launch of Payment Connect on June 22, 2025. A launch ceremony for Payment Connect was held in Beijing today. The Governor of the PBoC, Mr Pan Gongsheng; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Wang Linggui; and the Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, attended the ceremony and delivered remarks. The ceremony was officiated by Deputy Governor of the PBoC Mr Lu Lei. Representatives from system operators and participating institutions from the Mainland and Hong Kong also attended the ceremony.
      
     Payment Connect refers to the linkage between the Mainland’s Internet Banking Payment System (IBPS) (Note 1) and Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS) (Note 2), which supports secure, efficient and convenient real-time cross-boundary payment for residents and institutions in both places. By simply inputting the recipient’s mobile number or account number, residents in both places can make instant small-value cross-boundary remittances.
      
     Mr Yue said, “Payment Connect is one of the key initiatives in strengthening co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The connection between the faster payment systems in both places enhances the efficiency of cross-boundary payments, supporting trade activities and personnel exchange. This development will further promote Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and offshore Renminbi business hub. Payment Connect will cater to the daily needs of residents in both places for cross-boundary remittances and payments. It also signifies another milestone for the FPS in expanding cross-boundary payment.”
      
     Six institutions each from the Mainland and Hong Kong (Annex) will participate in the Payment Connect upon its launch. They will roll out the service gradually and more institutions will join over time.

Note 1: The Mainland China’s Internet Banking Payment System (IBPS) is the faster payment system in the Mainland, built by the China National Clearing Center under the guidance of the People’s Bank of China. IBPS enables user to make real-time cross-bank retail payment transactions through the mobile banking or online banking of his/her bank. By using the system, user can handle cross-bank account management, fund transfer, fund consolidation and other services without leaving home, and obtain instant transaction processing results.

Note 2: The HKMA launched the Faster Payment System (FPS) in September 2018. This system connects banks and stored-value facility operators (SVFs), enabling the public to make real-time cross banks and cross SVFs fund transfers anytime and anywhere, by using the recipient’s mobile number or email address.

Photo  Photo  Photo  Photo  Photo  
read more

East Asia