The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 37 points, or 0.14 percent, at 26,885, on turnover of HK$315.1 billion, up 10.4 percent from Wednesday. The China Enterprises Index rose 44 points, or 0.5 percent, to 9,093, while the city's tech index added 0.74 percent to 5,406.
Northbound inflows from Chinese mainland totaled HK$24.98 billion, up 86.78 percent from the previous day, marking the sixth consecutive session of net inflows.
Among heavyweight tech shares, Alibaba (9988) ticked up 0.06 percent, Tencent (0700) recovered from an intraday six-month low to close 0.09 percent higher, Meituan (3690) rose 1.79 percent, and Xiaomi (1810) jumped 2.83 percent. Netease (9999) gained 0.36 percent, JD.com (9618) added 0.83 percent, and Baidu (9888) climbed 2.7 percent after approving a US$5 billion share buyback plan.
Restaurant stocks outperformed. Yum China (9987) surged 11.42 percent, Haidilao International (6862) rose 4.03 percent, Jiumaojiu International (9922) added 1.87 percent, and Xiabuxiabu Catering Management (China) (0520) gained 2.63 percent.
Semiconductor shares continued to face pressure following a sharp drop in US chip stocks. Semiconductor Manufacturing International (0981) fell 1.89 percent, Hua Hong Semiconductor (1347) lost 2.73 percent, ASMPT (0522) dropped 6.6 percent, and GigaDevice Semiconductor (3986) declined 4.47 percent.
Mainland Chinese markets were lower, with the Shanghai Composite Index down 26 points, or 0.64 percent, at 4,075, and the Shenzhen Component Index off 203 points, or 1.44 percent, to 13,952.
