Time for a dip: Water quality at 24 beaches has been rated good and eight are rated fair this weekend.

The Environmental Protection Department has rated water quality of 24 beaches as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and one as Very Poor (Grade 4) this weekend. 

Among them Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Butterfly Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1, while Golden Beach has changed from Grade 2 to Grade 4. 

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

The department also reminds swimmers that 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.