China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) reposted a commentary criticising CK Hutchison's port deal with U.S. firm BlackRock as a betrayal of China, sending shares of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate sharply lower on Friday.

Shares in Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison fell 5 per cent on Friday after China criticised the sale of its Panama Canal ports and said it should “think twice” about the $22.8bn deal with US asset manager BlackRock.

Beijing's veiled attack on Hong Kong's CK Hutchison for selling its Panama Canal ports by posting a blistering newspaper commentary against it is an attempt to pile pressure on the conglomerate to either axe the deal or negotiate better terms that protect the national interest,