HONG KONG -- A delegation of consular corps and business communities based in Hong Kong began a four-day tour of Chinese mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on Tuesday to explore investment opportunities in the region's burgeoning technology sector.

Addressing the launch ceremony in Hong Kong, Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Hong Kong is "not only a participant and contributor but also a beneficiary" in the GBA's development. He noted Hong Kong's unique position and pivotal role in facilitating the region's foreign trade and investment while benefiting from the area's economic opportunities.

Mojalefa Mogono, Consul General of the Republic of South Africa in the HKSAR, said that "the GBA with its unparalleled economic vitality, innovative spirit, and cultural diversity stands as a statement to the potential of regional integration," eyeing deeper collaboration with partners in trade, technology, people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

David Whitwam, chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, told Xinhua that he would focus on China's advanced technology and manufacturing sectors during the trip. He highlighted the GBA's advantages in talent, capital, technology and transport, combined with Hong Kong's professional services.

The delegation will visit Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhuhai from Tuesday to Friday, including stops at major cooperation zones like Qianhai and Hengqin. The itinerary focuses on smart driving, robotics, smart agriculture and biomedicine to assess the GBA's innovation-driven development and inspire sustainable growth.