Several parts of Hong Kong were hit by suspected red tides over the weekend, with swathes of the Cheung Chau shoreline caked with a putrid, foamy discharge that put off many beach-goers.
Pictures taken by local islanders and tourists on Saturday and Sunday showed parts of the island's Tung Wan Beach covered in the light brown froth.
Red tides, or algal blooms, are areas of seawater discoloured - brown, pink or red - by large concentrations of micro-organisms that may deplete levels of dissolved oxygen. Sightings usually peak in the spring.
A reader photo showing the foamy waters at Cheung Chau over the weekend.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the Environmental Protection Department was taking water samples.
On Saturday, beach-goers were advised not to swim at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung and Silver Mine Bay Beach on Lantau Island.
The government's inter-departmental red tide working group reported six red tides in Hong Kong waters last week in Silverstrand Beach and Hoi Ha Wan in Sai Kung, Junk Bay, Sham Wan, Lo Tik Wan, the Sok Kwu Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones, and the east and west Lamma channels.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has stepped up monitoring of the fish culture zones in close vicinity of the red tides.
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