HONG KONG, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks ended higher on Thursday, as gains in other Asian markets including China inspired some bargain-hunting, while coal producers retreated after the government's order to keep prices unchanged.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index <.HSI> finished up 0.86 percent at 23,448.78. The China Enterprises Index <.HSCE> of top locally listed mainland companies rose 1.06 percent.
Coal producers lost ground. China Shenhua Energy Co Ltd <1088.HK> slumped 5.1 percent, the biggest percentage loser on the HSI, after reports that beijing had ordered a freeze in prices for 2011. [ID:nTOE6B101K] (Reporting by Jun Ebias; Editing by Chris Lewis)