Hong Kong stocks opened lower this morning, dragged down by declining tech shares following US investment restrictions.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened 625 points or 2.7 percent lower at 22,716 points, while the tech gauge opened 4.3 percent lower -- the most since November -- at 5,540 points.

Alibaba (9988) opened at HK$125.10, 7.8 percent lower than the previous close while Tencent (0700) once lost over 4 percent. BYD (1211) declined by 1.6 percent.

US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Friday to impose investment restrictions on “foreign adversaries”, including China, Hong Kong and Macau.