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HONG KONG, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's shares tumbled 5.49 percent on
Tuesday to a near two-year low, after Lehman Brothers (LEH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) sought bankruptcy
protection and fears about the U.S. financial system knocked equity markets down
across the world.

Financial plays tumbled after Lehman failed to find a rescuer, insurer AIG
(AIG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) struggled for survival and Merrill Lynch (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) was snapped up by Bank
of America (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), all of which unleashed a wave of global stock selling on
Monday, when Hong Kong markets were closed for a holiday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index .HSI unofficially ended down 1,063.08 points
at 18,289.82, dragged down by steep losses in finance, energy, and telecom
plays.

The Chinese Enterprises Index .HSCE of mainland companies
listed in Hong Kong was down 7.51 percent at 9,225.89.

(US$1=HK$7.8)
(Reporting by Joseph Chaney; Editing by Ken Wills)