Hong Kong stocks close 2.12 pct higher

Hong Kong's stock market ended higher Thursday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 2.12 percent to close at 26,485.9 points.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 2.1 percent to end at 9,355.97 points, the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 2.74 percent to end at 5,944.22 points.

China will establish a dynamic maintenance mechanism for territorial spatial planning, according to a circular on enhancing the guarantee of natural resource elements.

The circular, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration earlier this month, introduced 13 policy measures focusing on optimizing territorial spatial layout, improving resource allocation efficiency, safeguarding mineral exploitation, balancing existing and newly added resources, and coordinating land and sea use.

According to the notice, China will enhance the guarantee of natural resource elements to facilitate the implementation of 109 major projects outlined in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

"With regard to national and provincial projects designated on the planning map, which are eligible for special site selection, if a provincial natural resources administration conducted a review and granted permission that complies with the territorial spatial planning, the land use pre-review and site selection procedures can be omitted. With permission, land can be used. The approval procedures are significantly streamlined to ensure that major projects can be launched, built and put into service as quickly as possible," said Xie Haixia, director of the National Land Spatial Planning Bureau at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The circular also urged a coordinated approval mechanism for land use, forest use, grassland use and sea use.

"Through information technology, we transition from step-by-step approval to parallel approval. At the provincial level, we will achieve full-system connectivity across all levels, reducing the need to re-enter applications and the step-by-step review of matters. By mobilizing data, we will reduce the legwork for enterprises and the public," said Liu Yan, director of the ministry's Department of Territorial Spatial Use Control.