By Jiaxing Li

HONG KONG, Feb 10 - Chinese and Hong Kong stocks were broadly higher on Monday as optimism around artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek continued to lift tech stocks, while better-than-expected inflation data buoyed sentiment.

** The Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC gained 0.3% to 3,313.75 points by the midday break, adding to the 1.6% advance in the previous week.

** The blue-chip CSI 300 Index .CSI300 was little changed after fluctuating between gains and losses.

** In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index .HSI jumped 1.4% and the Hang Seng Tech Index .HSTECH rallied 1.8% to a four-month high.

** AI-related shares led gains on continued optimism around DeepSeek. Chipmaker Cambricon Technologies 688256.SS jumped 6.2% and AI firm CloudWalk Technology 688327.SS surged to the 20% daily trading limit, leading gains onshore.

** China's three largest telecom operators - China Mobile 600941.SS, China Unicom 600050.SS and China Telecom 601728.SS - gained 1.2% to 5.9% after saying they were working with DeepSeek's open source model to "promote inclusive application of the latest AI technology".

** "Onshore market could keep this upward momentum until the Two Sessions in March despite the volatility, boosted by the launch of DeepSeek AI which has increased market confidence," analysts at China Securities said in a note.

** Concerns about U.S.-China trade tensions may also ease in the short term as investors increasingly view tariff threats as negotiation tactics, they said.

** Meanwhile, worries about China's deflation eased after data released on Sunday showed consumer inflation accelerated to its fastest in five months in January thanks to the holiday spending.

** Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index .MIAPJ0000PUS was weaker by 0.38% while Japan's Nikkei index .N225 was up 0.05%.

(Reporting by Jiaxing Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Varun H K)

((jiaxing.li@thomsonreuters.com; +852 63358304))