Chief Executive John Lee said on Thursday that he plans to visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates next month as part of the campaign to tell a good Hong Kong story.

Lee said he will lead top officials and a business delegation to strengthen investment, trade and cultural ties with the two countries.

He said he expects the Hong Kong economy to return to a growth track with visitor numbers picking up significantly as the government rolls out international promotional campaigns for the SAR.

"At the beginning of next month, there will be a series of large-scale 'Hello Hong Kong' publicity campaigns. We will promote Hong Kong to the international arena that we have resumed normalcy," he told lawmakers at a question and answer session at the legislature.

The CE said a series of sports and cultural mega events as well as international conferences and exhibitions will take place in the coming months.

Besides overseas visits, Lee said he wants to meet leaders in Guangdong province and other Greater Bay Area cities to discuss greater regional development.

Lee added that he will attend the Boao Forum for Asia in late March.