National security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law was on Friday included among 29 bills put on Legco’s agenda to be dealt with in the coming year.

Lawmakers welcomed the inclusion of the Safeguarding National Security Bill put forward by the Security Bureau, describing it as “overdue”.

Business and Professionals Alliance legislator Jeffrey Lam, who is also an executive councillor, said he thinks businesses will be more confident about their investments in Hong Kong once new legislation banning acts such as treason and theft of state secrets is enacted.

“The business sector and myself both think that relevant legislation can also further stabilise Hong Kong’s political and business environment,” he told reporters.

“This can help play a role in promoting investment and conducting business activities in future.”

Lam said national security is a top priority for Hong Kong and the city cannot drag its feet further on Article 23 legislation just because of “smear campaigns” from overseas.

New People’s Party chairwoman Regina Ip agreed with this sentiment, adding that some foreign countries – which she did not name – are not qualified to criticise Hong Kong’s move to protect national security, being as they have their own very harsh legislation which they constantly amend.

It is not yet clear whether the Article 23 bill will be tabled to Legco in the first half or second half of the year, but Ip said the sooner the better.

In any case, there will be ample time for lawmakers to scrutinise the bill, said Ip, who as secretary for security was in charge of a failed bid to enact such legislation more than two decades ago.

Legco’s only non-establishment member Tik Chi-yuen said that while he does not oppose the enactment of Article 23 legislation, officials should carefully listen to public views on the issue.

“There are still quite a number of Hongkongers feeling worried about Article 23 legislation. Their worry is whether it would affect everyday freedoms or the room for social participation,” he told reporters.

“Furthermore, right now many citizens are still adjusting to the National Security Law. So hopefully the SAR government can understand well the people’s concern.”

Tik also said any attempt to rush the bill through could create political turmoil.