Hong Kong stocks dropped at the open on Monday following a tepid lead from Wall Street, with traders keeping tabs on the release of mainland economic data due later in the day.

The Hang Seng Index slipped 0.52 percent to 17,849.

The Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.49 percent to 3,018, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on the mainland's second exchange eased 0.48 percent to 1,682. (AFP)