Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 10) 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) and nine as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Big Wave Bay Beach* |
Lo So Shing Beach |
Butterfly 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* |
South Bay Beach* |
Deep Water Bay Beach* |
St. Stephen's Beach |
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach [Non-gazetted beach] |
Stanley Main Beach* |
Golden Beach* |
Tai Po Lung Mei Beach* |
Hap Mun Bay Beach* |
Tong Fuk Beach |
Hung Shing Yeh Beach* |
Trio Beach |
Kadoorie Beach* |
Turtle Cove Beach |
Kiu Tsui Beach |
Upper Cheung Sha Beach |
Kwun Yam Beach |
Grade 2 beaches are:
Anglers' Beach* |
Lido Beach* |
Approach Beach |
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
Casam Beach* |
Silverstrand Beach* |
Castle Peak Beach |
Ting Kau Beach* |
Hoi Mei Wan Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Castle Peak Beach and Silverstrand Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
"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 22 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from April 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
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling
Hong Kong Customs shut down an underground cigarette factory in Fanling yesterday (April 9), and seized about 31.92 tons of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco and 1.23 million sticks of suspected illicit cigarette. The total estimated market value of all seizure was about $220 million, while the duty potential was about $130 million. Six persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
After in-depth investigation, Customs Officers identified a large metal hut in Ping Che, Fanling. Customs raided the metal hut yesterday morning and found a complete illegal cigarette production line which included machines for producing and packaging illicit cigarettes, a large amount of raw materials used for manufacturing illicit cigarettes and finished illicit cigarette products. Five men and one woman, aged between 21 and 52, were arrested at the scene.
The case is still under investigation. Customs will continue to trace the source of the batch of raw materials of the illicit cigarettes and the production line-related machines. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs reminds members of the public that they must be vigilant when purchasing cigarettes. They should patronise reputable merchants or stores and not purchase cigarettes from unknown sources to avoid threats to their health.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), a person shall not, except under and in accordance with a licence, manufacture tobacco. Besides, any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs shuts down underground cigarette factory in Fanling Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
