The Hang Seng Index traded fell 0.2 per cent to 24,101.97 as of 11.05am local time after rising as much as 0.3 per cent. The Hang Seng Tech Index eased 0.1 per cent. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.4 per cent, while the CSI 300 Index added 0.2 per cent.
Search-engine operator Baidu slumped 3.4 per cent to HK$83.55, while e-commerce giant JD.com slid 1.8 per cent to HK$121.20 and online travel platform Trip.com eased 0.4 per cent to HK$486.40.
Trimming the losses were electric-car maker Li Auto, which gained 3.3 per cent to HK$112.10, while coal miner Zijin Mining Group advanced 1.3 per cent to HK$20.25 and China Shenhua Energy added 4.4 per cent to HK$32.35.
US President Donald Trump on Friday proposed raising baseline tariffs on imports to 15 to 20 per cent, and later threatened 30 per cent duties on goods from the European Union and Mexico from August 1, despite ongoing talks. That dragged both futures for S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq fell 0.4 per cent.
“Markets have priced it all mainly as noise, but there’s a growing sense that this time may be different,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner of SPI Asset Management, in a note on Monday.