​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a delegation to visit Guangzhou and Shenzhen this Thursday (February 23), beginning his first visit since taking office to cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
      
     Mr Lee said that with the implementation of full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, he had sought to visit Guangdong Province, particularly cities in the GBA, as early as practicable. After liaison with relevant Mainland authorities, the visit to Guangzhou and Shenzhen is scheduled for Thursday.
      
     Members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government delegation will include the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.
      
     Mr Lee and the delegation will depart for Guangzhou in the morning to meet with leaders of Guangdong Province to exchange views on Hong Kong's co-operation with Guangdong in promoting high-quality development of the GBA. They will depart for Shenzhen in the afternoon to meet with leaders of Shenzhen to discuss the comprehensive deepening of co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
           
     Mr Lee added that he would visit other GBA Mainland cities and the Macao SAR to discuss the promotion of high-quality development in the GBA, with a view to injecting stronger impetus to the growth of Hong Kong and the entire GBA and achieving mutual benefits.
      
     Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong in the evening on February 23. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Tsang, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs. During the absence of Mr Yau, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. During the absence of Dr Choi, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.

Ends/Monday, February 20, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:42

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