The Environmental Protection Department has rated water quality at 24 beaches 'good', eight 'fair' and one 'poor' for this weekend.

Compared with last week, there was no change in the ratings for the eight beaches that are already opened for swimming - Big Wave Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Stanley Main Beach, Golden Beach and Silverstrand Beach.

Twenty-five other beaches will open for swimming this Sunday. For details, click here.

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

Many beaches are likely to be more polluted than their grades suggest during and after heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.