New report reveals beach water quality grades: is your favorite spot safe to swim?
âThe Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 19) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Thirty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), seven as Fair (Grade 2) and two as Poor (Grade 3).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach*
Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria New Beach
Middle Bay Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach
Pui O Beach*
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*
Repulse Bay Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach
Shek O Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach
Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*
Silverstrand Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*
South Bay Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak 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
Kadoorie Beach*
Trio Beach
Kiu Tsui Beach
Turtle Cove Beach
Kwun Yam Beach
Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Lo So Shing Beach
Grade 2 beaches are:
Approach Beach
Hoi Mei Wan Beach
Butterfly Beach*
Lido Beach*
Casam Beach*
Ting Kau Beach*
Castle Peak Beach
Grade 3 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach*
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Compared with the grading released last week, Silverstrand Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, and Anglers' Beach from Grade 4 to Grade 3. Lido Beach and Ting Kau Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Ma Wan Tung Wan 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 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 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 has no lifesaving service.
Source: AI-generated images
Empowering the future: siti's inspiring speech at lingnan university's data science school inauguration
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Lingnan University School of Data Science Establishment Ceremony today (May 2):
Mr Andrew Yao (Chairman of the Council of the Lingnan University), Mr Tim Lui (Chairman of the University Grants Committee), Professor Joe Qin (President of the Lingnan University and Wai Kee KauChair Professor of Data Science), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you all today at the Establishment Ceremony of the School of Data Science in Lingnan University.
For long, Lingnan has taken pride in its long history as well as its legacy and mission of providing whole-person education that blends Eastern and Western philosophies. Liberal arts education, or in Chinese, åé
æè², forms the cornerstone of the Lingnan community.
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter of Lingnan. With the objective to seamlessly integrate arts, humanities and sciences, the new School of Data Science is the best illustration of what higher education looks like today and tomorrow.
In the digital era where data-related knowledge has become indispensable and the demand for talents equipped with such knowledge rises at exponential rate, I am pleased to learn that Lingnan University has offered various programmes on Data Science and AI (artificial intelligence), and will be introducing more in the coming years. These programmes would be the strong propellers to the Government's efforts in enlarging the local talent pool in the innovation and technology (I&T) sector to create new impetus for economic growth.
Having been in the field of higher education for nearly 30 years in Hong Kong, I am well aware of the pressure university administrators face in admitting new programmes and the concerns students may have about their career prospects after graduation. As President Xi Jinping has indicated, new quality productive forces would be the driving force for our future, and I&T is the transformative agent in the process. Please rest assured that I&T is Hong Kong's future and we are on the right track.
The Government is making significant strides to foster the development of Hong Kong's I&T and data-based digital economy. Apart from our steadfast commitment to opening up more data and promoting cross-boundary data flow in the Greater Bay Area, Cyberport is setting up the AI Supercomputing Centre for commissioning in phases from this year onwards to accelerate high-powered computing projects and facilitate scientific breakthrough. The $3 billion AI funding scheme as announced in the Budget this year will also help eligible users, including universities, to make the best use of the AI supercomputing infrastructure.
To unleash the potentials of data and optimise these I&T resources, we need more talents in the field of data science to ignite the power of data and AI, transform research outcomes into applications and business opportunities, and chart new horizon of our digital society. Members of the School of Data Science would surely be a good fit for these.
Before I close, please allow me to express my appreciation to Mr Yao, Professor Qin and all Lingnan members for contributing to today's success and steering Lingnan University into a new era. I am confident that Lingnan University will continue to stand tall as a beacon of excellence in liberal arts education. And, with the establishment of the School of Data Science, there is no doubt that Lingnan University will lead the next wave of digital revolution in Hong Kong's higher education sector.
As Lingnan University's 60th anniversary approaches, I wish Lingnan many fruitful returns. And, again, congratulations on today's Establishment Ceremony of the School of Data Science. Thank you.
Speech by SITI at Lingnan University School of Data Science Establishment Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
