Water quality at 22 beaches has been rated 'good' for this weekend, seven are 'fair', two are 'poor' and the Silverstrand Beach is 'very poor', according to the Environmental Protection Department's latest grading.

Clear Water Bay First, Pui O, Clear Water Bay Second, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Shek O, Discovery Bay, South Bay, Hap Mun Bay, St Stephen's, Hung Shing Yeh, Stanley Main, Kiu Tsui, Tong Fuk, Kwun Yam, Trio, Lo So Shing, Turtle Cove, Lower Cheung Sha, Upper Cheung Sha, Cheung Chau Tung Wan and Chung Hom Kok beaches are all 'good'.

Middle Bay, Silver Mine Bay, Big Wave Bay, Golden, Butterfly, Kadoorie, Cafeteria New and Ma Wan Tung Wan beaches are all 'fair'. Cafeteria Old and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach are 'poor'.

From June 1, Castle Peak Beach in Tuen Mun will be reopened and its grading, currently 'fair', will be reported regularly.

Compared with the previous week, Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from 'fair' to 'good',

Beaches to avoid
Middle Bay Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been downgraded from 'good' to 'fair', while Silverstrand Beach from 'fair' to 'very poor'.

The department said the changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches except for Silverstrand Beach.

The very poor water quality of Silverstrand Beach is due to heavy rain which flushed pollutants from the beach hinterland into the water, it added.

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 beach swimming for up to three days after a storm or heavy rain.

See the department's website or call 2511 6666 for more information.