Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun has been closed after an oil spill was sighted in the area, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said on June 14.
The department said the red flag has been hoisted at the beach, and it will remain closed until further notice. Beachgoers have been advised not to swim at the location.
According to the LCSD, the oil spill was identified earlier in the day, prompting the closure as a precautionary measure. The department did not specify the source or extent of the spill, or provide a timeline for when the beach may reopen.
Butterfly Beach is a public bathing beach located in the Tuen Mun district along Hong Kong’s western coastline, popular with swimmers and visitors from the surrounding area. The beach is among several gazetted beaches managed by the LCSD across the New Territories.
Oil spills requiring beach closures are relatively uncommon in Hong Kong but have occurred in previous years, often linked to vessel discharges or industrial incidents in nearby waters. The LCSD routinely hoists red flags and closes affected beaches as a safety measure until water quality tests confirm conditions are safe for swimming.
The department urged members of the public to pay attention to flag signals at beaches and to refrain from swimming at beaches where red flags are displayed. Further updates on the status of Butterfly Beach will be issued by the LCSD as conditions develop.
