HONG KONG, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index ended higher Thursday with the hopes of strong company earning in 2007 will encourage investors.

    The Hang Seng index closed up 47.21 points or 0.2 percent at 22,664.22 after trading between 22,205.20 and 22,758.94 during the session. Turnover stood at 79.95 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.77 billion U.S. dollars).

    Investors focused on flagship companies of billionaire Li Ka- shing such as Hutchison Whampoa Ltd and Cheung Kong (Holdings), which have both released earnings figures from last year.

    Hutchison Whampoa rose 0.65 Hong Kong dollars to 73.70, after gaining as much as 2.6 percent early today. Cheung Kong climbed 1.70 Hong Kong dollars or 1.6 percent to 110.10. The property developer beat forecasts with profit growth of 53.1 percent to 27.68 billion dollars, higher than the 44 percent increase expected.

    CNOOC advanced 0.16 Hong Kong dollars or 1.5 percent to 11.12 ahead of its results. After the market's close, the Hong Kong- listed mainland Chinese offshore oil producer announced a modest improvement in its net profit in 2007. CNOOC said its net profit rose to 31.26 billion yuan last year from 30.93 billion yuan the year before, an increase of 1.1 percent.

    Henderson Land, which is due to announce its earnings for the first half ended December later in the day, added 0.30 Hong Kong dollars to 55.60.

    China Unicom down 0.18 Hong Kong dollars or 1 percent at 17.54 after gaining 2.8 percent on Wednesday. The company said its full-year net profit more than doubled to 9.3 billion yuan on exceptional gains.

    Hong Kong's largest property developer Sun Hung Kai Properties rose 3 Hong Kong dollars or 2.6 percent to 118.90.

    Air China, the biggest international carrier on the mainland, slumped 0.49 Hong Kong dollars or 7 percent to 6.47 after oil prices continued to creep higher in Asian trade. China Southern Airlines, the nation's biggest airline, fell 0.24 Hong Kong dollars or 4 percent to 5.73.