HONG KONG: Hong Kong shares started Tuesday on the back foot after three days of healthy gains while investors grow increasingly concerned about spiking inflation and a global energy crisis.

The Hang Seng Index fell 1.30 percent, or 329.14 points, to 24,995.95.

The Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.29 percent, or 10.41 points, to 3,581.30, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange shed 0.24 percent, or 5.69 points, to 2,397.77.