HONG KONG (Reuters) - Shares of CK Hutchison ( CKHUF ) were set to open down 4.5% on Monday after China state media blasted the Hong Kong conglomerate's Panama port deal and sources said the deal, which was expected to be signed on April 2, would be delayed.

Chinese state media attacked CK Hutchison's ( CKHUF ) plan to sell its ports near the Panama Canal to a group led by BlackRock ( BLK ), in a social media post on Saturday that was later taken down.

Reuters reported on Friday CK Hutchison had delayed part of the sale process, although sources said the deal has not been called off.

(Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Muralikumar Anantharaman)