26/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Ashton congratulates Chun-ying Leung on his election. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton offered her congratulations on Monday 26 March to pro-establishment businessman Chun-ying Leung on his election, the previous day, as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, SAR. Stating that Hong Kong is “an important partner for the EU and shares values of openness, tolerance and respect for fundamental freedoms”, Ashton hoped for further deepening of EU and Hong Kong relations during his five-year term of office. She said that the EU “attaches great importance” to Hong Kong's stability, economic prosperity and democratic development and supported “substantial progress towards the goal of universal suffrage by 2017”. (CG/transl.rt)