Hong Kong shares rise 1.51% by noon

HONG KONG: Hong Kong shares rose 1.51 percent on Monday morning as traders welcomed a speech by US Fed chief Ben Bernanke that left the door open to monetary easing measures for the world's leading economy.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index added 296.63 points to 19,879.51 on turnover of HK$26.00 billion ($3.34 billion).