SWIMMERS should watch out for the microscopic algae commonly known as red tide, the Environmental Protection Department said yesterday.
The spring and autumn are prime seasons for the seaborne algae to bloom, said Principal Environmental Protection Officer Malcolm Broom.
''The irritants vary from person to person. It's a skin irritation,'' he said.
Red tide is a generic term referring to several different forms of algae. In certain circumstances, the algae can be a reddish colour.
Hong Kong South: Big Wave Bay: fair; Chung Hom Kok: fair; Deep Water Bay: fair; Hairpin: fair; Middle Bay: good; Repulse Bay: fair; Shek O: fair; South Bay: good; St Stephen's: fair; Turtle Cove: good; Stanley Main: fair; Rocky Bay (closed); To Tei Wan (non-gazetted): fair. Tuen Mun District: Old Cafeteria (closed); New Cafeteria: fair; Castle Peak (closed); Kadoorie: fair; Butterfly: poor. Sai Kung District: Campers: good; Clear Water Bay 1st Beach: good; Clear Water Bay 2nd Beach: fair; Hap Mun Bay: good; Kiu Tsui: good; Pak Sha Chau: good; Silverstrand: fair; Trio (Hebe Haven): good. Islands District: Cheung Sha Upper: good; Cheung Sha Lower: poor; Discovery Bay (non-gazetted): fair; Hung Shing Yeh: good; Kwun Yum Wan: good; Tong Fuk: good; Lo So Shing: good; Pui O: fair; Silvermine Bay: fair; Tung Wan, Cheung Chau: good; Tung O (non-gazetted): good. Tsuen Wan District: Anglers' (closed); Approach: poor; Casam: poor; Gemini: poor; Hoi Mei Wan: poor; Lido: poor; Ting Kau: poor; Tung Wan, Ma Wan: fair.
