Colourful coral: The latest reef check results show corals in Hong Kong are healthy and stable.

Corals in Hong Kong are healthy and stable, with 23 out of 34 sites surveyed recording high coral coverage, according to the results of the Hong Kong Reef Check 2008.

Gruff Head and Coral Beach at Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park and A Ma Wan at Tung Ping Chau Marine Park recorded the highest coral coverage, at about 72%.

The three-month survey, conducted from June, covered the coral sites in eastern Hong Kong waters from Tung Ping Chau in the north to the Ninepin Group in the south, including three Marine Parks - Hoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau Tong and Tung Ping Chau.

The survey revealed a variation in coral coverage ranging from 20% to 72%. Twenty-three sites recorded high coral coverage, at above 50%.

Corals at 25 sites were assessed using a specially designed health monitoring chart. The average health index was 4.27, similar to last year's 4.16 figure, showing corals are in healthy and stable condition.