EPD Releases Latest Water Quality Grades for 39 Beaches: 24 Rated Good, 15 Fair, 1 Poor

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 24) 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:

Butterfly Beach*

Lower Cheung Sha Beach

Cafeteria New Beach

Pui O Beach*

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*

Repulse Bay Beach*

Chung Hom Kok Beach

Shek O Beach*

Deep Water Bay Beach*

South Bay Beach*

Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted 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

Lo So Shing Beach

Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*

Kadoorie Beach*

Big Wave Bay Beach*

Lido Beach*

Cafeteria Old Beach

Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*

Casam Beach*

Middle Bay Beach*

Castle Peak Beach

Silver Mine Bay Beach*

Clear Water Bay First Beach*

Silverstrand Beach*

Clear Water Bay Second Beach*

Ting Kau Beach*

Hoi Mei Wan Beach*

Grade 3 beach is:

Approach Beach*

Compared with the grading released last week, Butterfly Beach and Deep Water Bay Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Middle Bay Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Approach 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 27 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 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

Scam alert related to banks

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

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on theHKMA website.

Bank

Type of scam

The Bank of East Asia, Limited

Fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing email

Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

Chong Hing Bank Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited

Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens

The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

Source: AI-found images