Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 13) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
Five beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and one as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Casam Beach
Golden Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach
Silverstrand Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach
Grade 2 beach is:
Lido Beach
Compared with the grading released last week, Casam Beach has been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1.
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.
Photo source: epd.gov.hk
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).
Hong Kong's trade in services statistics for 2024
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 13) the Hong Kong's trade in services (TIS) statistics for 2024, with detailed breakdowns by service component and by main destination/source.
Comparing 2024 with 2023, the value of total exports of services rose by 9.9% to $835.5 billion, and that of total imports of services increased by 12.9% to $698.1 billion. An invisible trade surplus at $137.4 billion, equivalent to 19.7% of the value of total imports of services, was recorded in 2024. This was smaller than the corresponding surplus of $141.6 billion in 2023, equivalent to 22.9% of the value of total imports of services in 2023.
Analysis by service component
Analysed by service component, transport was the largest component in exports of services, accounting for 32.0% of the value of total exports of services in 2024. This was followed by financial services (25.9%) and travel (21.0%).
As for imports of services, travel accounted for 31.9% of the value of total imports of services in 2024, followed by transport (22.1%) and other business services (15.1%).
Amongst various service components, the net exports of financial services contributed most significantly to the overall invisible trade surplus, at $145.8 billion in 2024. This was followed by transport ($112.6 billion) and other business services ($14.4 billion).
On the other hand, manufacturing services imported by Hong Kong in outward processing were substantial, resulting in a deficit of $89.3 billion in 2024. This was followed by travel ($47.5 billion) and charges for the use of intellectual property ($7.2 billion).
Analysis by main destination/source
Chinese Mainland and the United States of America (the USA) were the top two main destinations of exports of services of Hong Kong, accounting for 28.6% and 18.2% respectively of the value of total exports of services in 2024. They were followed by the United Kingdom (the UK) (9.1%), Singapore (5.4%) and Taiwan (4.5%).
Chinese Mainland and the USA were also the top two main sources of imports of services, accounting for 40.8% and 10.9% respectively of the value of total imports of services in 2024. They were followed by Japan (7.8%), the UK (7.5%) and Singapore (4.9%).
Analysed by region, Asia was the most important destination of the exports of services of Hong Kong, accounting for 52.8% of the value of total exports of services in 2024, followed by North America (20.2%) and Western Europe (20.0%).
For imports of services, Asia was also the most important source, accounting for 66.8% of the value of total imports of services in 2024, followed by Western Europe (15.8%) and North America (12.5%).
Further information
Table 1 presents exports, imports and net exports of services by service component in 2023 and 2024.
Table 2 presents exports of services by main destination and imports of services by main source in 2023 and 2024.
Table 3 presents exports, imports and net exports of services by region of destination/source in 2023 and 2024.
More detailed TIS statistics will be given in the report "Hong Kong Trade in Services Statistics in 2024". Users can browse and download this report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020011&scode=240) as from end-February 2026.
The TIS statistics have incorporated the latest international recommendations given in the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010. For details, please refer to the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode240.html). They are compiled mainly based on data obtained from the Annual Survey of Imports and Exports of Services conducted by the C&SD, supplemented by data from other relevant sources. The TIS statistics for 2024 are subject to minor revision when more data from supplementary sources become available.
For enquiries about TIS statistics, please contact the Trade in Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7415; email: tis@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: AI-found images
