Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation to visit Guangzhou and Shenzhen this Thursday, beginning his first visit since taking office to cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Lee explained that with the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, he had sought to visit Guangdong Province, particularly cities in the bay area, as early as practicable. After liaising with Mainland authorities, the visit is scheduled for February 23.

The delegation will include Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin and Director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip.

Mr Lee and the delegation will leave for Guangzhou in the morning to meet Guangdong Province leaders and exchange views on Hong Kong's co-operation with Guangdong in promoting high-quality development of the bay area.

They will depart for Shenzhen in the afternoon to meet leaders there to discuss the comprehensive deepening of co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Mr Lee added that he will visit other bay area Mainland cities and Macau to discuss the promotion of high-quality development there, with a view to injecting stronger impetus to the growth of Hong Kong and the entire bay area in addition to achieving mutual benefits.

Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong in the evening of February 23.

During his absence, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will be Acting Chief Executive.