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.

China’s top office on Hong Kong issues reposted a sharp attack on CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. for agreeing to sell a controlling stake in Panama ports, warning companies to be very careful about which “side they should stand on.

Shares of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison slid more than 6% on Friday after China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office posted a commentary in state media criticising the company's recent port sale as a betrayal of China.

China’s top office on Hong Kong affairs has reposted an attack on CK Hutchison’s decision to sell its Panama Canal ports, amplifying a Beijing-backed newspaper’s warnings for the Li Ka-shing-owned conglomerate to “think twice” about which side it stands on.