Hong Kong shares fall to 3-mth low

Hong Kong shares sank to a three-month low on Tuesday, ahead of holidays, as investors steered from risk as they wondered when the city's worst unrest in decades would end and what China's response would be. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters blocked Hong Kong streets on Tuesday, in one of the biggest political challenges to Beijing since the Tiananmen Square crackdown 25 years ago. China shares also weakened in choppy trade, after a private survey pointed to a still-sluggish economy facing considerable risks, though the Shanghai benchmark was still heading for its biggest quarterly gain in more than four years. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 1.2 per cent by midday at 22,950.66 points - its lowest since June 26 - and appeared on track for a fourth straight daily loss, according to Reuters.