HK stocks fall 2.8 pct; China financials down

HONG KONG, April 14 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks fell 2.84 on Monday, tracking a slide in overseas markets, with mainland stock markets in focus after a report said China had called for a halt to A-share listings of China-backed red chips in Shanghai.

The Hang Seng Index .HSI opened at 23,968.04, with Chinese banking and financial stocks leading the slide. ICBC (1398.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fell 2.93 percent, China Construction Bank (0939.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) plunged 3.13 percent, and China Life (2628.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) dived 4.12 percent.

The China Enterprises Index of Hong Kong-listed mainland companies .HSCE, or H shares, opened down 3.26 percent at 12,922.20. (US$1=HK$7.8) (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Keiron Henderson)