HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong stocks dived more than 3 per cent in the first few minutes of business on Monday (Aug 26) after United States President Donald Trump ramped up his trade row with China and the city was hit by fresh violent protests over the weekend.

The Hang Seng Index plummeted 3.27 per cent, or 857.33 points, to 25,322 at the open.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index sank 1.6 per cent, or 46.41 points, to 2,851.02, and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, shed 1.96 per cent, or 30.87 points, to 1,547.83.