Dec 20 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares closed at a near 21-month low on Monday, dragged down by tech giants and financial firms, after a rate cut in China's lending benchmark failed to lift investor sentiment.

The Hang Seng index fell 1.9% to 22,744.86, while the China Enterprises Index lost 2.1% to 8,042.74 points.

** China cut its lending benchmark loan prime rate (LPR) for the first time in 20 months, matching market expectations, in a bid to prop up the slowing economy.

** The one-year LPR was lowered by 5 basis points, while the five-year LPR remained unchanged. "Today's moderate cut sent a signal of Beijing's easing bias, but its real impact will be quite limited," said Nomura analysts.

** The Hang Seng Tech Index slumped 3.2% to a new low since its inception in July 2020, with internet giants Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and Meituan down between 1.8% and 2.9%.

** The Hang Seng Finance Index retreated 1.3%. Some index heavyweights in finance and tech sectors such as HSBC Holdings, AIA Group and Meituan dragged the city's benchmark Hang Seng Index lower.

** Mainland developers listed in Hong Kong tumbled 4.8%. Developers Sunac China, Kaisa Group and Evergrande Group closed 17.8%, 14.1% and 9.9% lower, respectively.

** Analysts said the decision to keep the five-year rate unchanged showed Beijing preferred not to use the property sector to stimulate economic growth.

** Healthcare firms and consumer discretionary stocks declined over 3% each, while materials-related shares plunged 5.3%.

(Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)