The Hang Seng Index slumped 1.6 per cent to 19,815.24 at the noon trading break, the lowest level since January 23. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index, which tracks the 300 largest stocks in Shanghai and Shenzhen, added 0.3 per cent.
Other major Asia-Pacific markets weakened: Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index fell 3.7 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi slid 1.4 per cent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 retreated 1.7 per cent.
All but 12 members of the Hang Seng Index fell, with exporters like PC maker Lenovo Group and clothing manufacturer Shenzhou International bearing the brunt.
Electric car maker BYD fell 3.8 per cent to HK$318, travel booking platform Trip.com sank 3.5 per cent to HK$418.40 and e-commerce giant JD.com slid 2.8 per cent to HK$133.70.
On the upside, chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation rose 7 per cent to HK$41.90, smartphone and car maker Xiaomi added 3 per cent to HK$40.05 and bottled water Nongfu Spring advanced 1.2 per cent to HK$33.20.
