Hong Kong  - Hong Kong shares plunged by nearly 3.6 per cent in morning trading Tuesday as the city's stock market reopened after a long weekend.

The Hang Seng Index shed 870.25 points to close the morning session at 23,531.93 points, 3.57 per cent lower than Friday's close before the holiday weekend which saw the market shut on Monday.

The morning losses were anticipated after falls on Wall Street on Friday and on regional markets Monday. Turnover for the morning session in Hong Kong was 41.21 billion Hong Kong dollars (5.27 billion US). (dpa)