Hong Kong residents line up to sign a petition supporting the national security legislation for Hong Kong on May 28, 2020. (PHOTO / CCTV VIA CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

Various sectors of the Hong Kong society on Thursday hailed the nation's top legislature's approval of a draft decision to introduce national security legislation for Hong Kong.

Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, said NPC's endorsement of this legislation is necessary and urgently needed, adding the law will protect the city's economy and people's livelihood.

READ MORE: NPC adopts decision on national security legislation for HK

Voicing support for the decision, Leung also advised the government to double down on efforts to explain the need and importance of the law for local and international communities, to dispel concerns.

Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, meets the press in Hong Kong, May 28, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Martin Liao Cheung-kong, convenor of the Legislative Council's pro-establishment camp, said they "firmly support" the NPC's resolution, approved by an overwhelming majority. He noted the legislation will close a gap in China's national security system, which has manifested in a year of street violence and terrorism-like attacks.

As of noon of Thursday, over 1.85 million people in Hong Kong have signed a petition supporting the national security legislation for Hong Kong, according to a signature campaign launched by an alliance made up by various sectors in the city.

Pro-establishment legislators voice their support for the national security legislation as they meet the press at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, May 28, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Among the endorsers of the legislation are Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who signed the petition on Thursday morning at a street booth in North Point, and top officials of the SAR government.

READ MORE: HK leader vows support for legislation

According to a statement from the city's biggest labor union, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, separatists have gone all-out to "beg for" foreign intervention since the nation's top legislature revealed its plan to introduce national security legislation for Hong Kong. This shows the proposed legislation has hit home and vindicates the legislation as imperative, according to the statement.

A Hong Kong-based legal experts’ group welcomed the NPC decision too. In a statement, the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation termed it constitutional and valid, expressing support for the move.

National security, like defense and foreign affairs, is within the jurisdiction of the central government, and these matters do not fall within the ambit of the special administrative region’s autonomy, the group pointed out.

The group also stressed that human rights protected by the Basic Law will remain “valid and effective” once the national security law comes into force.