Hong Kong shares opened lower on Thursday.

The Hang Seng Index was down 0.99 percent, or 227 points, opening at 22,716.

The People's Bank of China's interest rate decision will top a busy Asia-Pacific economic event calendar on Thursday, with many stock markets around the world at new peaks or hugging recent highs.

It comes as investors try to make sense of the blitz of headlines surrounding global trade tensions. (Agencies)