Hong Kong  - Hong Kong share prices fell by more than 3 per cent Monday morning as investors across the region joined in a sell-off over fears the financial turmoil in Europe is deepening.

The Hang Seng Index closed for lunch down 592.83 points, or 3.35 per cent, at 17.089.57 points. Turnover was 22.55 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.9 billion US dollars).

All 43 blue-chip companies closed the morning session down lower in Hong Kong with the heaviest falls in insurance companies and banks exposed to troubled US and European institutions. (dpa)