The HSBC and Cathay Pacific-sponsored rugby tournament will be pushed back from April until October, the first delay to the tournament in its 44 year history.
A number of other major sporting events in China have also been delayed, including Formula One's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
China's authorities in their latest update on Wednesday has reported a sharp rise in coronavirus infections and deaths in its Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak.
According to the reports, the number of cases rose almost 15,000 on the previous day, with the death toll up by 242. Hubei has changed its methodology after China was accused of under-reporting.
China, Hong Kong and some other 23 countries are curently taken stringent measures to contain the spread of the deadly mysterious virus.
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