Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 2.6 percent at the open on Tuesday, at 22,716 points.

It comes as world markets are at a delicate juncture, as rising global trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty cloud the investment landscape.

Elsewhere, South Korean shares fell on Tuesday, as the country's central bank lowered its forecast for this year's economic growth.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) lowered interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, as expected, cutting rates for a third time in the current easing cycle as growth concerns take centre stage.

The BOK downgraded its forecast for this year's economic growth to 1.5 percent, from 1.9 percent seen in November. It was even weaker than the governor's earlier warning in January that the projection would be lowered to 1.6 percent or 1.7 percent. (Agencies)