HK shares slides to loss, track mainland market

HONG KONG, March 18 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks surrendered
opening gains on Tuesday as investors took cues from sliding
mainland markets while confidence remained weak on concerns thta
the ongoing credit crunch could worsen.

Investors fear more tightening steps could be on the horizon
after Premier Wen Jiabao told a news conference on Tuesday the
central government would make fighting inflation a top priority.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index .HSI was down 1.5 percent at
20,778.39 at 0317 GMT. The China Enterprises index of H shares
.HSCE, or Hong Kong-listed shares in mainland companies, fell
3.6 percent.
(Reporting by Rita Chang; editing by Ken Wills)