Hong Kong stocks commenced trading with a robust start, as the Hang Seng Index surged 1.72% and the Hang Seng TECH Index advanced 2.08%. Notably, the retail and semiconductor sectors emerged as standouts, with Alibaba's share price skyrocketing by nearly 15% and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) shares gaining over 6%. Conversely, the automotive and construction sectors lagged behind, with Xpeng Motors and China Railway Engineering both witnessing their share prices decline by more than 1%.