View source for Shek O Beach

{{Short description|Beach in Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox landform
| name              = Shek O Beach
| other_name        = 
| photo             = Shek O Beach.JPG
| photo_width       = 
| photo_alt         = 
| photo_caption     = Shek O Beach
| map               = Hong Kong
| map_width         = 
| map_caption       = 
| map_alt           = 
| relief            = 
| label             = 
| label_position    = 
| mark              = 
| marker_size       = 
| location          = [[Shek O]], [[Hong Kong Island]]
| grid_ref          = 
| grid_ref_UK       = 
| grid_ref_Ireland  = 
| coordinates       = {{coord|22.228796|114.250859|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref   = 
| range             = 
| part_of           = 
| water_bodies      = 
| length            = 230 metres
| formed_by         = 
| type              = Beach
| free_label_1      = Patrolled by
| free_data_1       = [[Leisure and Cultural Services Department]] 
| free_label_2      = Hazard rating
| free_data_2       = 
| free_label_3      = Access
| free_data_3       =   
| embedded          = {{succession links|left=|right=}}
}}
{{Chinese
|t=石澳泳灘
|s=石澳泳滩
|j=sek6 ou3 wing6 taan1
|p=Shí Ào Yǒng Tān
}}
'''Shek O Beach''' is a gazetted beach located facing Island Bay in [[Shek O]], [[Southern District, Hong Kong|Southern District]], Hong Kong. The beach has barbecue pits and is managed by the [[Leisure and Cultural Services Department]] of the [[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]].<ref name="info">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index/beach-location-hk/beach-address-south.html|title=Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Beaches and Swimming Pools - Southern|work=Leisure and Cultural Services Department|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref> The beach is about 230 metres long and is rated as Grade 1 by the [[Environmental Protection Department]] for its water quality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cd.epic.epd.gov.hk/EPICDI/beach/gradingreport/SO/|title=Environmental Protection Interactive Centre : Beach Water Quality Data|work=[[Environmental Protection Department]]|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

==History==
On 25 October 2014, a 60-year-old man was found lying on the shore after being drowned while swimming near the beach. The police and the ambulance had arrived at the scene and confirmed that the man had died.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20141025/bkn-20141025075506371-1025_00822_001.html|title=男子離奇伏屍石澳泳灘　警查死因|newspaper=[[Oriental Daily News]]|date=25 October 2014|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

On 18 November 2018, a 12-year-old girl drowned while swimming near the beach. She was rescued by a swimmer and was accompanied by her male relative and her friend to [[Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital]] for treatment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20181118/bkn-20181118101827342-1118_00822_001.html|title=女童石澳泳灘遇溺　獲熱心泳客救起|newspaper=Oriental Daily News|date=18 November 2018|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

On 19 May 2019, a 69-year-old woman drowned while swimming near the beach. She was unconscious when she was rescued by lifeguards and was taken an ambulance to the hospital, where she was certified dead.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.mingpao.com/ins/港聞/article/20190519/s00001/1558187120680/六旬婦石澳泳灘遇溺亡|title=六旬婦石澳泳灘遇溺亡|newspaper=[[Ming Pao]]|date=19 May 2019|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

On 25 November 2020, Li, a 14-year-old Form Two boy of [[Shau Kei Wan East Government Secondary School]], died after being drowned while playing in the water with seven other classmates on the beach.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20201126/bkn-20201126123438817-1126_00822_001.html|title=中二男生石澳戲水溺斃　同窗獲悉情緒激動｜即時新聞｜港澳｜on.cc東網|newspaper=Oriental Daily News|date=26 November 2020|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

==Usage==
The rocky cliffs on the beach provide an excellent place for sports climbing, and the beach offers views of Ng Fan Chau in Island Bay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hongkongextras.com/_beaches_hong_kong_island.html|title=BEACHES - HONG KONG ISLAND - HONG KONG EXTRAS3|work=Hong Kong Extras|access-date=25 April 2021}}</ref>

==Features==
The beach has the following features:<ref name="info"/>
* BBQ pits (39 nos.)
* Changing rooms
* Showers
* Toilets
* Car park
* Light refreshment restaurant
* Water sports centre
* Playground
* Obstacle golf course

==See also==
* [[Beaches of Hong Kong]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
* [https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index/beach-location-hk/beach-address-south.html Official website]
{{Southern District, Hong Kong}}
{{Gazetted beaches in Hong Kong}}
[[Category:Southern District, Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Beaches of Hong Kong]]