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The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, today (November 8) sent the following message to congratulate Mr Barack Obama on his victory in the US presidential election:
"On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the people of Hong Kong, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations on your re-election as the President of the United States.
Links between Hong Kong and the United States go back well over 150 years. We are a major destination of US investment in Asia, and home to a significant US expatriate population. As such, we have developed very close ties in the business world, as well as other areas such as education and creative endeavor, cultural exchange, tourism and of course between family and friends. Long may this continue.
As a Special Administrative Region of China, Hong Kong has a unique role to play in the continued opening up and reform of the Mainland China market. This important process is gathering momentum and will continue under the new Central Government leadership. Our cultural heritage and unique history, as well as our free and open society under the rule of law, provide a firm foundation for US and other international interests to explore new opportunities for growth and co-operation in our market and that of our country.
We look forward to deepening our links with the United States during the next four years of your Presidency and to foster even greater mutual understanding across the Pacific between the United States, Hong Kong and China.
Once again, I offer my warmest congratulations for your election victory. I would also like to extend my personal invitation to you to visit Hong Kong any time during your next term to come and see first-hand why Hong Kong holds such great attraction for US business interests in Asia."
Ends/Thursday, November 8, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:04
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