HONG KONG, July 12 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares extended their rally to a third straight session on Wednesday, driven by stronger-than-expected credit figures in June and tech stocks' gains, though Chinese stocks edged down as investors waited for a bigger stimulus.

** The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.78% despite upbeat credit data; China's blue-chip CSI 300 Index declined 0.67%

** Hang Seng Index advanced 1.08%, and Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 1.30%.

** China's new bank loans jumped more than expected in June from the previous month, helped by central bank efforts to support the economy as a post-pandemic recovery fades.

** However, analysts at BofA Securities said in a note on Wednesday that they doubt expanding credit supply alone will be effective in lifting growth momentum significantly at a time when confidence in both households and private sector remains weak.

** "In our view, the downside risks on growth calls for more timely and effective easing measures to boost domestic demand," they said.

** The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, said on its official WeChat account on Wednesday they have visited companies including Alibaba , Tencent and Meituan recently, and praised the leading role the companies are taking in innovations and high-quality development.

** The tone of support for China's big tech companies further boosted the performance of tech stocks. Hang Seng Tech Index jumped 2%, posting a three-day winning streak.

** Among China A-shares, telecommunications stocks slumped 3.7% to lead the decline after Inspur Software, China's top server maker, announced a first-half profit warning.

** Meanwhile, China is reportedly to lay down AI rules with an emphasis on content control.

** On the geopolitical side, Canada launched separate investigations into Nike Canada and Dynasty Gold to probe allegations that they used or benefited from forced Uyghur labour in their supply chains and operations in China. (Reporting by Summer Zhen; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Eileen Soreng)