Hong Kong shares plunged more than one percent in the opening exchanges of Thursday after US lawmakers passed a bill supporting Hong Kong rights in a move investors fear could jeopardise ongoing China-US trade talks.

The Hang Seng index dived 1.62 percent, or 434.40 points, to 26,455.21.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.29 percent, or 8.50 points, to 2,902.55 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, fell 0.39 percent, or 6.44 points, to 1,628.72.

Source : AFP