Hong Kong stocks fell at the open on Tuesday as traders around the world grow worried that the collapse of a regional US lender could lead to contagion in the banking sector.

The Hang Seng Index shed 0.9 percent to 19,524.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.2 percent to 3,261, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange slipped 0.2 percent to 2,093. (AFP)