* SSEC +0.2%, CSI300 +0.4%, HSI -0.2% * HK->Shanghai Connect daily quota used 100%, Shanghai->HK daily quota used -0.1% * FTSE China A50 +0.3% SHANGHAI, June 30 (Reuters) - China stocks climbed on Wednesday, aided by semiconductor firms on expectations of robust earnings, while soft factory activity data eased fears of policy tightening in the world’s second-largest economy. ** The CSI300 index rose 0.4% to 5,212.25 by the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.2% to 3,581.72. ** Shenzhen’s start-up board ChiNext added 1.7%, while Shanghai’s tech-focused STAR50 index rose 1.8%. ** Growth in China’s June factory activity dipped to a four-month low on higher raw material costs, a shortage of semiconductors and a COVID-19 outbreak in the major export province of Guangdong, amid wider supply chain disruptions in Asia. ** China’s June official manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index eased slightly to 50.9 versus 51.0 in May, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. It, however, exceeded analysts’ forecast for a slowdown to 50.8. ** China’s economic growth could be weak in the second half, indicating a neutral monetary policy with a loosening bias would continue, Essence Securities said in a report, adding weak growth could substantially decrease chances of monetary tightening. ** Shares in China’s semiconductor firms jumped on expectations of robust earnings growth in the first half as a shortage of semiconductors pushed prices higher. ** Shenzhen Fine Made Electronics Group Co Ltd, Kingsemi Co Ltd, Sino Wealth Electronic Ltd and SG Micro Corp rose between 11% and 20%. ** The CSI all-share semiconductors & semiconductor equipment index climbed 4.7% by the midday break. ** In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 0.2% to 28,948.75, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index lost 0.4% to 10,716.92. ** Shares of oncology and immunology drug developer and maker Hutchmed China Ltd rose as high as HK$59.80 in Hong Kong debut, up 49.1% from the offer price. (Reporting by Luoyan Liu and Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.