The Hang Seng Index rose 53 points or 0.23 percent to open at 23,291 points on Friday.

Mainland stocks opened lower, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.10 percent to open at 3,358 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index opened 0.13 percent lower at 10,039 points

Meanwhile, China has kept benchmark lending rates unchanged as expected on Friday.

The one-year loan prime rate (LPR), a market-based benchmark lending rate, came in at three percent.

The over-five-year LPR, on which many lenders base their mortgage rates, also remained unchanged from the previous reading of 3.5 percent, according to the National Interbank Funding Centre. (Xinhua)