14
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990
THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE A BEACH то SWIMMERS IS BASED ON A JUDGEMENT OF WHAT DEGREE OF POLLUTION IS ACCEPTABLE.
BY
SO
NORMALLY, THE CLOSURE OF A BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED THE URBAN OR REGIONAL COUNCIL IF A "4" GRADING OCCURRED REPEATEDLY, THAT THE AVERAGE HEALTH RISK OVER THE BATHING SEASON EXCEEDED 15 CASES PER 1,000 SWIMMERS. SIMILARLY, THE REOPENING OF A CLOSED BEACH WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF A "3" GRADE OR BETTER WERE CONSISTENTLY OBTAINED.
AT PRESENT, TWO BATHING BEACHES, NAMELY CASTLE PEAK AND OLD CAFETERIA, HAVE BEEN DECLARED UNSUITABLE FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES, BASED ON THE WATER · QUALITY DURING PAST SEASONS.
NOT TO
THEY ARE POLLUTED BY FAECAL WASTES AND FAIL TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENTLY THE HONG KONG STANDARDS. THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED SWIM IN THE WATER AT THESE TWO BEACHES.
IN ADDITION, ROCKY BAY BEACH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SWIMMING PURPOSES BY THE URBAN COUNCIL. THESE THREE BEACHES ARE IDENTIFIED BY AN "X" IN THE FOLLOWING LIST.
THE GRADES ON THE BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY OF VARIOUS BEACHES IN HONG KONG AS AT TODAY ARE LISTED BELOW:
BEACH
LAST GRADING
PRESENT GRADING
(AS AT 31.5.90)
(AS AT 14.6,90)
HONG KONG SOUTH
BIG WAVE BAY
3
3
CHUNG HOM KOK
2
2
DEEP WATER BAY
1
1
HAIRPIN
3
3
MIDDLE BAY
1
1
REPULSE BAY
1
1
SHEK O
3
3
SOUTH BAY
1
1
ST STEPHEN'S
2
1
TURTLE COVE
2
2
STANLEY MAÍN
2
2
ROCKY BAY
X
X
TO TEI WAN*
1
1
TUEN MUN