Hong Kong stocks inched up on Tuesday amid speculation that more public companies will buy back their shares. Recently, the China Securities Journal cited an unknown official from the China Securities Regulatory Commission who said that publically traded companies are obliged to buy back their own equities. The Hang Seng Index gained 0.07% to close at 19,811.80. Five out of nine sectors included in the index advanced. Consumer goods and services sectors were the top-performers. Tingyi Cayman Islands and Want Want China rose by 0.44% and 2.94% while Sands China climbed 2.21%. On the downside were technology and industrial companies. Tencent Holdings and Citic Pacific fell by 0.98% and 2.19%. Meanwhile, financials were flat. Bank of China and Bank of East Asia slid 0.68% and 0.35% whereas Bank of Communications and BOC Hong Kong gained 1.78% and 1.03%.