MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1989
THE REPORT EVALUATED THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY TRENDS OF THE BATHING BEACHES. IT ALSO DISCUSSED THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION OF BEACHES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS AND THE REMEDIAL ACTIONS REQUIRED.
THE REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT :
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
—
THOSE BEACHES WHICH ARE AT PRESENT "CLOSED" TO SWIMMERS NAMELY ROCKY BAY, ANGLERS', OLD CAFETERIA, SILVERMINE BAY AND CASTLE PEAK SHOULD REMAIN 'CLOSED" UNTIL THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THEIR WATER QUALITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED.
-
"
TING KAU BEACH SHOULD BE "CLOSED" TO SWIMMERS UNTIL THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 1992 IS COMPLETED AND THE WATER QUALITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED.
IN VIEW OF THE REMEDIAL MEASURES EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, MIDDLE BAY BEACH SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN OPEN, BUT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THE LEVEL OF HEALTH RISK.
THE STANDARD OF PROVISION OF BEACH TOILETS, AND ESPECIALLY THEIR WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FACILITIES (SUCH AS SEPTIC TANKS AND SOAKAWAY SYSTEMS) SHOULD BE UPGRADED, AND THEY SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO NEARBY PUBLIC FOUL SEWERS.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
MR HOLMES SAID THE REPORT PRESENTED A NEW ANNUAL RANKING SYSTEM BASED ON SWIMMING-ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISK LEVELS, DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINDINGS OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL-MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF BEACH WATER POLLUTION UNDERTAKEN FOR NINE BEACHES IN 1987.
A SUMMARY OF THE RANKING FOR ALL THE GAZETTED BEACHES IN HONG KONG, LISTED IN THE ORDER OF INCREASING LEVELS OF FAECAL POLLUTION OR HEALTH RISK, WAS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT, HE SAID.
THE MICROBIAL WATER QUALITY TREND FOR ALL THE BATHING BEACHES IN HONG KONG WERE ALSO ANALYSED. THE PREVIOUS DECLINING TRENDS IN BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF 11 OUT OF 13 BATHING BEACHES ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF HONG KONG ISLAND HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED.
OF THE 30 GAZETTED BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF 10 GAZETTED BEACHES IS DECLINING.
THE MICROBIAL WATER QUALITY OF SILVERMINE BAY BEACH IMPROVED RECENTLY, AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WASTE CONTROL SCHEME. HOWEVER, THE ACCEPTABILITY CRITERION NOT BEEN ATTAINED BY THE END OF THE 1988 BATHING SEASON.
THE
HAS BEEN LIVESTOCK
HAS STILL
MUCH MORE EFFORT AND INVESTMENT IS NEEDED ΤΟ RESTORE THE QUALITY OF ALL OF THESE BEACHES.
THE BEACH WATER QUALITY REPORT CONTAINED FOR PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS WHOSE WORK IS RELATED TO BEACH WATER QUALITY.
USEFUL INFORMATION AND TOWN PLANNERS
/IT ALSO