HK shares jump 2.3 pct as 3G hopes propel telcos

* China telcos gain on 3G licence hopes; China Mobile lags

* Telco equipment makers soar on expected 3G spending

* Energy stocks rally on higher oil prices

(Updates to midday)

By Parvathy Ullatil

HONG KONG, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares rang in 2009 on a strong note, climbing 2.3 percent on Friday, with Chinese telecom companies and equipment makers outperforming on hopes of the imminent issuance of 3G licences and resources stocks gaining on higher oil prices.

Asia's top oil and gas producer PetroChina (0857.HK) jumped 3.8 percent to HK$7.05 while offshore oil producer CNOOC (0883.HK) rose 3.5 percent.

Oil CLc1 pulled back more than 4 percent in Asian trade Friday, but the retreat followed a 14 percent surge in crude prices on Wednesday.

The Hang Seng Index .HSI ended the morning session 325.22 points higher at 14,712.70 after opening up 0.4 percent.

Turnover stayed slim at HK$15.6 billion ($2.01 billion) compared with HK$19.5 billion by midday on Wednesday, with many market participants still away on holidays.

The China Enterprises Index of top locally listed mainland Chinese firms .HSCE had risen 2.5 percent to 8,092.25.

3G HOPES PROPEL TELCOS

Chinese telecom service providers and equipment makers surged after China's state council said on Wednesday it had approved the issuance of long-awaited licences for next generation (3G) mobile networks, opening the door to some $41 billion in spending for equipment.

Shares in the world's largest wireless carrier China Mobile (0941.HK) gained 2.7 percent at HK$79.90 but lagged those in smaller rivals China Unicom (0762.HK) and China Telecom (0728.HK).

"Winning market share will be the primary goal of these operators and the possibility of cut-throat price competition cannot be ruled out," said Kary Sei, analyst with ICEA Securities Asia Ltd.

China Mobile was the top traded stock of the morning with shares worth HK$599.7 million changing hands.

China Unicom rose 6.3 percent while China Telecom, the newest entrant to China's wireless telecommunication industry, rallied 5.5 percent.

Shares in telecommunications equipment makers, billed to be the biggest beneficiaries of new spending on technology and network upgrades, soared. ZTE (0763.HK) rose 7.4 percent while Comba Telecom Systems (2342.HK), climbed 9.3 percent.

China Communications Services Corp (0552.HK) gained 6.6 percent while China Wireless (2369.HK) shot up 17.1 percent.

China's state council on Wednesday approved the issuance of long-awaited licences for 3G mobile networks but did not say when the licences would be issued by the Ministry of Industry of Information.

(Reporting by Parvathy Ullatil; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)