The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) hoisted red flags at six beaches across Hong Kong on June 14, citing safety risks from big waves and poor water quality following heavy rain.
At three beaches, the warnings were prompted by large wave conditions. Deep Water Bay Beach in Southern District, Hung Shing Yeh Beach in Islands District, and Hap Mun Bay Beach in Sai Kung District were all placed under red flag status, with the LCSD advising beachgoers not to swim.
Separately, the department raised red flags at three additional beaches based on water quality forecasts from the Environmental Protection Department. Silver Mine Bay Beach and Pui O Beach in Islands District, along with Ting Kau Beach in Tsuen Wan District, each received a Beach Water Quality Forecast Index rating of 4 on a scale where higher values indicate greater health risk. A rating of 4 denotes "Very Poor" predicted water quality. The EPD attributed the readings to potential transient water quality fluctuations caused by heavy rain, which can increase runoff and bacterial levels in coastal waters.
The warnings came as Hong Kong experienced widespread rainstorm conditions that prompted several other precautionary measures across the city. The daily flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai was cancelled on the morning of June 14 due to a thunderstorm warning. The Labour Department separately issued electrical safety advisories for outdoor and construction workers, and the Drainage Services Department urged the public to report street flooding through government hotlines.
The LCSD operates a network of public beaches across Hong Kong's coastlines, with flag systems used to communicate real-time safety conditions to the public. Red flags indicate that a beach is considered unsafe for swimming due to identified hazards — either from marine conditions such as large waves and strong currents, or from water quality readings that fail to meet public health standards. The warnings remain in effect until conditions improve and the flags are formally lowered by the department.
The EPD operates a Beach Water Quality Forecast System that uses predictive modelling to assess daily water quality at Hong Kong's gazetted beaches. The system issues forecasts based on factors including rainfall, tidal patterns, and historical bacterial data. During the summer swimming season, heavy rainfall is a known factor that can temporarily affect coastal water conditions, particularly at beaches near stormwater outlets or river mouths.
Beachgoers are advised to check the latest flag status and water quality forecasts through the EPD's online platform before heading to any beach. The department typically updates flag status throughout the day as conditions change.
The two sets of June 14 warnings affected beaches across four districts — Southern District on Hong Kong Island, Islands District, Sai Kung, and Tsuen Wan — covering both the eastern and western approaches to Hong Kong's coastline.
