The Hang Seng Index gained 62 points, or 0.23 percent, to open at 26,918 on Thursday.

Overnight, Wall Street's main stock indexes closed higher, as investors looked past weaker-than-expected private payrolls data and uncertainty around the first day of the US federal government shutdown. With the Labor Department's September jobs report expected to be postponed if the government has not reopened by Friday, investors were paying close attention to the ADP National Employment Report.

Mainland markets were closed for the Golden Week holiday. (Xinhua/Reuters)