Hong Kong shares ended higher on Thursday. The Hang Seng Index climbed 1.65 percent to 20,276.17. The Hong Kong China Enterprises Index gained 1.95 percent to 6,918.62.

Tech giants listed in Hong Kong climbed 0.7 percent, with index heavyweight Alibaba Group rising 3.7 percent to be the biggest boost for the Hang Seng Index. 

Chinese language internet search provider Baidu Inc added more than 4 percent as Baidu and Pony.ai said they had received permits to deploy driverless robotaxis on open Chinese roads for the first time.

Hong Kong shares of China Coal Energy surged 10.2 percent, while the energy sector rose 4 percent.