People stand in front of a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index at Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong, Oct 25, 2021. (VINCENT YU / AP)

Hong Kong shares closed down on Friday at their lowest in seven weeks, tracking weak global markets on worries around a new and possibly vaccine-resistant coronavirus variant.

The Hang Seng index fell 2.7 percent to 24,080.52, while the China Enterprises Index lost 2.7 percent to 8,576.07.

ALSO READ: HK finds 2 cases of new COVID variant identified in Africa

The Hang Seng index fell 2.7 percent to 24,080.52, while the China Enterprises Index lost 2.7 percent to 8,576.07

For the week, the Hang Seng Index lost 3.9 percent, while the China Enterprises Index retreated 4.4 percent. Both logged their biggest weekly decline in 10.

Hong Kong has found cases of the new variant, which was initially detected in South Africa. Scientists said the variant may be able to evade immune responses, while British authorities thought it is the most significant variant to date.

READ MORE: Australia investigates new variant found in South Africa

Tech giants tumbled 3.3 percent, with Tencent Holdings , Meituan, and Alibaba Group down between 3 percent and 4.7 percent.

Meanwhile, gambling stocks slumped 6.6 percent on COVID-19 concerns.