The Hang Seng Index sank 1.62 percent, or 440.76 points, to 26,819.68.

And the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.61 percent, or 16.15 points, to 2,649.81, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, dropped 0.48 percent, or 6.71 points, to 1,380.78.