PRESS DIGEST- Hong Kong - Dec 16

Dec 16 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Hong Kong newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - Hong Kong government expects about 1.5 million people to benefit from a long-awaited voluntary health insurance scheme which will cost the public purse more than HK$4.5 billion ($580 million) per year in subsidies and tax breaks. (http://bit.ly/1GJDopV) - Driven by its fast growing online industry and expanding smart phone user population, China is set to overtake Britain and Japan by the end of this year to become the world's second largest mobile internet advertising market, according to estimates by research company eMarketer. (http://bit.ly/1GJDOwu) THE STANDARD - Hong Kong bourse may embrace up to 115 new stocks this year if BBI Life Sciences manages to take the last spot, surpassing last year's record 104 floats. (http://bit.ly/1uKySB7) HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL - Citi Research forecast Hong Kong GDP to grow 2.6 percent in 2015, higher than this year's 2.3 percent growth, while residential property price is expected to up by 8 percent next year due to strong underlying demand. HONG KONG ECONOMIC TIMES - Retail portion of the initial public offering of Chinese developer Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties in Hong Kong has been over four times subscribed, locking up HK$8 billion, according to market sources. For Chinese newspapers, see............... ($1 = 7.7527 Hong Kong dollars) (Compiled by Donny Kwok in Hong Kong; Editing by Anand Basu)