HK shares in biggest loss since Feb 4

HONG KONG, Feb 20 (Reuters): Hong Kong shares posted their biggest loss in more than two weeks on Thursday, led by Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings on fears of greater competition after Facebook announced its purchase of mobile messaging startup WhatsApp.

Losses accelerated after the China flash Markit/HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index ( PMI) came in at 48.3 in February, a seven-month low, from January's final reading of 49.5. The employment sub-index slid to its weakest in four years.