Hong Kong stocks opened sharply lower Thursday morning following a drop on Wall Street fuelled by fresh recession worries after US retail sales slumped for a second straight month in December.

The Hang Seng Index sank 1.04 percent to 21,452.

The Shanghai Composite Index eased 0.09 percent, to 3,221, while the Shenzhen Composite Index slipped 0.13 percent, to 2,095. (AFP)