The Hang Seng Index slipped 0.28 percent, or 80.21 points, to 28,881.18.

And the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shed 1.03 percent, or 29.35 points, to 2,829.99.

The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, retreated 1.29 percent, or 20.45 points, to 1,566.86.