Hong Kong stocks rose 102.07 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 21,518.71 on Thursday.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened 74 points higher and traded between 21,606.32 and 21,476.30 during the day's session. Turnover totaled 70.94 billion HK dollars (about 9.09 billion U.S. dollars), up from Wednesday's 57.37 billion HK dollars.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 144.79 points, or 1.38 percent, to close at 10,636.25.

Three of the four sub-indices gained ground, with the Commerce & Industry sub-index rising 0.81 percent, following by the Finance at 0.39 percent, the Properties at 0.1 percent. The Utilities dropped 0.29 percent.

Banking giant HSBC, which accounts for the largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, moved down 0.13 percent to 76.45 HK dollars. Its local unit Hang Seng Bank ended flat at 119.50 HK dollars.

Another heavyweight China Mobile gained 2.16 percent at 85.10 HK dollars. Bank of East Asia, another major bank in Hong Kong, closed flat at 29.10 HK dollars. Local bourse operator HKEX rose 2. 88 percent to 121.40 HK dollars.

Local developers ended down in general. Cheung Kong Holding, a powerful HK-based developer controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, fell 0.78 percent to 114.30 HK dollars. Henderson Land, another major developer in Hong Kong, lowered 0.45 percent to 55.75 HK dollars. Sun Hung Kai Properties closed flat at 109 HK dollars.

Mainland-based lenders moved higher. China Construction Bank, the country's second largest bank which accounts for the third largest weighting of the Hang Seng Index, gained 0.38 percent at 5. 8 HK dollars. ICBC, the world's largest bank by market value, rose 1.61 percent at 5.05 HK dollars. Bank of China was up 0.65 percent to 3.10 HK dollars. Bank of Communications, China's fifth biggest lender measured by assets, went up 0.87 percent to 5.80 HK dollars.

As for energy stocks, China's top refiner Sinopec added 1.6 percent to 8.2 HK dollars. PetroChina, the country's largest oil and gas producer, rose 1.47 percent to 11.02 HK dollars. CNOOC fell 0.12 percent to 15.98 HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7. 751 HK dollars)