Water quality at 24 beaches has been rated "good" for this weekend and eight are ranked "fair", according to the Environmental Protection Department's latest grading.

Compared with the grading released last week, Big Wave Bay Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been upgraded from "fair" to "good", and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from "poor" to "fair".

The 24 "good" beaches are:

* Cheung Chau Tung Wan;

* Deep Water Bay;

* Kwun Yam;

* Middle Bay;

* Hung Shing Yeh;

* Repulse Bay;

* Lo So Shing;

* Shek O;

* Pui O;

* South Bay;

* Lower Cheung Sha;

* Stanley Main;

* Tong Fuk;

* St. Stephen's;

* Upper Cheung Sha;

* Turtle Cove;

* Clear Water Bay First;

* Kiu Tsui;

* Clear Water Bay Second;

* Trio;

* Hap Mun Bay;

* Discovery Bay;

* Big Wave Bay; and

* Silver Mine Bay.

Eight beaches with "fair" water quality are:

* Butterfly;

* Kadoorie;

* Chung Hom Kok;

* Cafeteria New;

* Cafeteria Old;

* Silverstrand;

* Golden; and

* Ma Wan Tung Wan.

Seven gazetted beaches - Anglers', Approach, Ting Kau, Casam, Gemini, Hoi Mei Wan and Lido Beaches - are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality.

As many beaches are likely to be more polluted than their grades suggest during and after periods of heavy rain, bathers are advised to avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

More information can be obtained from the department's website or through the hotline, 2511 6666.