EPD Releases Latest Water Quality Ratings for 39 Beaches: 21 Good, 15 Fair, 4 Poor.

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 25) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).

Twenty-one beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), 15 as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*

Shek O Beach*

Chung Hom Kok Beach

Silverstrand Beach*

Clear Water Bay First Beach

South Bay Beach*

Clear Water Bay Second Beach*

St. Stephen's Beach

Hap Mun Bay Beach*

Stanley Main Beach*

Hung Shing Yeh Beach*

Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*

Kiu Tsui Beach

Tong Fuk Beach

Kwun Yam Beach

Trio Beach

Lo So Shing Beach

Turtle Cove Beach

Middle Bay Beach

Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Repulse Bay Beach*

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*

Hoi Mei Wan Beach

Big Wave Bay Beach*

Kadoorie Beach

Butterfly Beach*

Lido Beach*

Cafeteria New Beach

Lower Cheung Sha Beach

Cafeteria Old Beach

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*

Deep Water Bay Beach*

Pui O Beach*

Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach]

Silver Mine Bay Beach*

Golden Beach*

Grade 3 beaches are:

Approach Beach

Castle Peak Beach

Casam Beach*

Ting Kau Beach*

Compared with the grading released last week, Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Approach Beach, Casam Beach and Ting Kau 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 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.

Source: AI-found images

Dog Adoption Carnival 2026 to be held this weekend

The "Let's Go! The Pet Owners' Journey" Dog Adoption Carnival 2026, organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), will be held at the Cyberport Arcade between 11am and 6pm this weekend (January 17 and 18). Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join the event with their dogs.

The Adoption Carnival aims to encourage members of the public who intend to keep pets, to adopt abandoned or unclaimed animals, as well as promote responsible pet ownership. The co-organisers of the Carnival include Cheung Chau Animal Care, HK Saving Cat and Dog Association, Lifelong Animal Protection Charity, Paws United Charity, Society for Abandoned Animals, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Team for Animals in Lantau South.

Members of the public can interact with dogs that are up for adoption at the Adoption Carnival. Dog keepers can apply for or renew licenses on site. The Carnival also features veterinary consultation services, a dog playground, a virtual reality gaming experience, game booths, an interactive educational exhibition, pet-themed handicraft workshops, as well as sharing sessions by representatives of animal welfare organisations (AWOs) and guest speakers. Participants are welcome to take part with their dogs. However, dogs entering the venue should be licensed (except for those to be licensed on-site), vaccinated against rabies, and microchipped. All dogs should also be kept under proper control.

The AFCD has been committed to encouraging members of the public who wish to keep pets to adopt abandoned or unclaimed animals through the AFCD's partnering AWOs. Upon receiving animals, the AFCD will transfer animals assessed by veterinarians as being in good health and suitable for adoption to partnering AWOs for adoption by members of the public. The AFCD provides free desexing operations for cats, dogs and rabbits adopted through partnering AWOs.

For details of the event, please visit the thematic website of the "Let's Go! The Pet Owners' Journey" Dog Adoption Carnival 2026 (www.petswithlove.com.hk).

Source: AI-found images