HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks fell in opening trade Monday after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Bloomberg News that President Joe Biden should press ahead with his US$4 trillion spending plan even if it triggers inflation and leads to a rise in interest rates.

The Hang Seng slid 0.81 percent, or 233.93 points, to 28,684.17.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 1.34 points to 3,590.50, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China's second exchange slipped 0.23 percent, or 5.64 points to 2,402.01.