Updated at 12.18pm: Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa late on Thursday delivered a congratulatory message to United States President George W. Bush on his re-election.
The message was sent hours after Mr Bush won the US Presidential election early on Thursday morning (HK time). Mr Bush secured a second term by gaining about 51 per cent of popular votes in the election.
Mr Tung wrote in a letter to Mr Bush: 'I am sure under your leadership, the United States' relationship with China will become closer in the years ahead. We in Hong Kong will continue our efforts to strengthen friendship between Hong Kong and the United States.'
The United States is Hong Kong's second largest trade partner. The territory sent about $39 billion worth of exports to the US last year.
On Thursday, Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen said that Hong Kong would benefit from the election because the Bush administration was a supporter of free trade.
Mr Tang said Mr Bush's trade policy was more open than the Democrat party of defeated presidential candidate John Kerry. He said Mr Bush's re-election was good for Hong Kong.
