Clean & clear: Water quality at 22 beaches has been rated 'good' for this weekend.

Twenty-two beaches have been rated 'good', while Golden and Kadoorie Beaches are 'poor' in the Environmental Protection Department's latest water quality gradings.

Eight other beaches are 'fair' and one is 'very poor'.

South Bay Beach upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 last week while Pui O Beach changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

Golden and Kadoorie Beaches went from Grade 2 to Grade 3, which the department said is generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches.

The very poor water quality of Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach is due to the heavy rain three weeks ago, which flushed pollutants from the unsewered beach hinterland into the water.

Meanwhile, 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. The public is advised not to swim at these closed beaches.

Also, the department cautioned that many beaches were likely to be more polluted than their grades suggested during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.

For a full report, please click here.