UNI-PRESIDENT Enterprises Corp, Taiwan's biggest maker of processed food, surged in Taipei trading after the Commercial Times newspaper reported it may raise about US$800 million by listing its China unit in Hong Kong next month.

Uni-President's shares rose to the seven-percent daily maximum for the second straight day to close at a two-week high of NT$47.60 (US$1.47) in Taipei. Selina Wu, a spokeswoman for Tainan-based Uni-President reached by phone, declined to comment on the report.

The food maker may seek to tap Hong Kong investors as the city's stock index has climbed 46 percent this year compared with a 14-percent gain in Taiwan's benchmark.