Twelve beaches are 'fair' - including Shek O Beach which was graded 'good' last week - Repulse Bay, Silver Mine Bay, Butterfly, Cafeteria New, Cafeteria Old, Castle Peak, Discovery Bay, Golden, Kadoorie, Ma Wan Tung Wan and Silverstrand.

The department said the change is within the normal range of the bacteriological water quality fluctuation.

Seven beaches - Anglers', Approach, Ting Kau, Casam, Gemini, Hoi Mei Wan and Lido - are closed to swimmers year round because of poor water quality. People should not swim at these beaches.

Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

Click here for beach water quality updates, or call 2511 6666. For a newly published Beach Water Quality in Hong Kong 2007 report, click here.