Grading of beach water quality released
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (October 18) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).
Twenty-nine beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), and 11 as Fair (Grade 2).
Grade 1 beaches are:
Cafeteria New Beach |
Lower Cheung Sha Beach |
Cafeteria Old Beach |
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach* |
Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach* |
Middle Bay Beach* |
Chung Hom Kok Beach |
Repulse Bay Beach* |
Clear Water Bay First Beach* |
Shek O Beach* |
Deep Water Bay Beach* |
Silver Mine Bay Beach* |
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach |
South Bay Beach* |
Golden Beach* |
St Stephen's Beach |
Hap Mun Bay Beach* |
Stanley Main Beach* |
Hoi Mei Wan 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:
Anglers' Beach* |
Clear Water Bay Second Beach* |
Approach Beach* |
Lido Beach* |
Big Wave Bay Beach* |
Pui O Beach* |
Butterfly Beach* |
Silverstrand Beach* |
Casam Beach* |
Ting Kau Beach* |
Castle Peak Beach |
Compared with the grading released last week, Cafeteria New Beach and Clear Water Bay First Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Anglers' Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Ting Kau 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). Moreover, the EPD will cease support to the Beach Water Quality Forecast mobile application with effect from November 1, with a view to prioritising resources to maintain and enhance the dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast.
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 is a non-gazetted beach that has no lifesaving service.
Research Grants Council to present public lecture: "To Healthy Life! Obesity Management and Application of Ultra-precision Machining Technology"
The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
In line with the Government's initiative to further strengthen the promotion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools, and to take further steps to identify and nurture local STEAM elites, the Research Grants Council (RGC) will organise a series of public lectures from October to November, covering topics including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, economy, health, technology and innovation. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. All are welcome.
The lecture titled "To Healthy Life! Obesity Management and Application of Ultra-precision Machining Technology" will be held on October 26 (Saturday). The lecture will be conducted in Cantonese. Details are as follows:
Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, 1/F, Hong Kong Science Museum
Members of the public may also watch a live broadcast of the lecture through the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hkscm) or the YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/user/hksciencemuseum) of the Hong Kong Science Museum.
In the first session "Combating obesity: Our current understanding and challenges", Associate Professor of the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Hong Kong Professor Chan Chi-bun will talk about the causes and impact of obesity, and the latest research on preventive and therapeutic methods to combat obesity.
In the second session "Novel Ultra-Precision Machining Technology Enters Innovation, Technology and Life", Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Benny Cheung, will introduce the development and application of ultra-precision nano multi-ring machining technology in the development of a novel and high-efficacy nano multi-ring defocus incorporated spectacle lens for myopia control. He will also talk about how interdisciplinary research and industrial collaboration help improve human life.
The RGC has been regularly organising public lectures since 2009, featuring various distinguished scholars as speakers. These lectures aim to promote research knowledge of Hong Kong's tertiary institutions and to raise public awareness of the significance and value of local research work.
For enquiries, please call 2524 3987 or visit the University Grants Committee webpage (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/lectures/lectures.html). In addition, members of the public can register for the RGC's email subscription service atwww.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/subscribeto receive regular updates.
