Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closes lower Thursday

Hong Kong's stock market ended lower on Thursday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index down 0.24 percent to close at 26,282.69 points.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 0.31 percent to end at 9,346.86 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index shed 0.68 percent to close at 6,051.76 points.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has drawn renewed international attention amid persistent rhetoric from the United States about acquiring the Arctic island and a growing diplomatic presence by Western nations in its capital Nuuk.

The U.S. consulate in Nuuk, the only permanent American diplomatic mission in Greenland, is located in a modest red wooden building. Originally opened in the mid-20th century, the consulate was closed in 1953 and reopened on June 10, 2020, operating under the U.S. Embassy in Denmark.

In January, the United States announced plans to relocate the consulate to a newly constructed high-rise building in the city center.

The new facility, expected to occupy roughly 3,000 square meters in the building's basement and to be fitted with bulletproof glass, will mark a sharp contrast with the current site.

Consulate staff said they do not yet know when the move will take place, noting that the new building has not yet opened.

Residents living near the future site said they were aware of the planned relocation. When asked whether it would affect their daily lives, many declined to comment. A small number of locals who agreed to be interviewed stressed that Greenland is not for sale.

"They have been here for many years already, the U.S. bases. Maybe we can cooperate with them in some way but we don't need to be sold to the U.S.," said a local resident.

Diplomatic activities in Nuuk have increased in recent weeks. France and Canada both opened consulates in the city on Friday. Canada said the new mission would help deepen cooperation with Greenland in areas including Arctic security, climate change and trade.

Iceland established its consulate in Nuuk in 2013, and Canada and Iceland are set to share the same office building.

France, which has announced plans to open a consulate, has yet to secure permanent premises.

Analysts say the expansion of diplomatic missions by multiple Western countries reflects Greenland's growing importance in the Arctic's strategic landscape, underscoring how the region is becoming a focal point of international attention and geopolitical competition.