The Hang Seng Index breached 28,000 during Thursday's trading before retreating.

Still, it closed at a fresh four-a-half-year high, picking up 141 points or 0.51 percent at 27,968.

It's the seventh straight session of gains.

Traders said market sentiment was positive as the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady as expected.

Mainland stocks finished mixed, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 0.16 percent to 4,157 and the Shenzhen Component Index giving up 0.3 percent at 14,300.