Chief Executive John Lee says Thursday's maiden visit to the Greater Bay Area is just the beginning of a push to cement ties with neighbouring cities and attract talent to the region.

Lee, who is leading a delegation of officials on a whistle-stop tour of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, said there would be many more opportunities for exchanges, starting with a visit to Macau next week.

Speaking after talks with top officials in Guangzhou, he told reporters: “We discussed how to promote high-value development. This is not just an area we should all aim at, it is an area we must go into, otherwise the value of creation will be discounted,” he said.

“This visit also means that there will be many other visits which will eventually create extra value through face-to-face contact, through building mutual understanding, and also aligning aims and objectives.”

Lee, who is making his first visit to Guangdong since taking office, added that he would lead a group of ministers on a visit to Macau next week, as well as a delegation of lawmakers that will go to the nine cities in the Greater Bay Area in April.

Meanwhile, the CE also said the administration had taken action to optimise arrangements for its Top Talent Pass Scheme, to ensure that people can only come to the SAR if their arrival is in Hong Kong's interests.

It follows the administration's move earlier this week to strip controversial genetic scientist He Jiankui of his visa under the new scheme. He had previously been jailed on the mainland, and applicants under the scheme must now declare whether they have a criminal record.

“[For] people who have a criminal record, we have to of course examine what this criminal record is all about, so as to assess whether his entry into Hong Kong is for the overall good for the society. This is the standard we will maintain in all visits and arrivals into Hong Kong.” he said.

Lee added that he hoped to make it easier for top professionals in the Greater Bay Area to apply for a multiple-entry visa for Hong Kong.

The chief executive returns to Hong Kong on Thursday evening after meeting officials in Shenzhen, including Mayor Qin Weizhong.