Political leaders in Hong Kong said on Wednesday that the city needs to urgently enact laws relating to national security, while promoting national security education among young people. Their remarks came as the city held a series of online events to mark the fifth National Security Education Day.

Executive Councilor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a former secretary for security, said there was an urgent need to enact a national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law following months of violent protests against the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

"The social unrest last year clearly showed that we don't have enough legal deterrents against terrorism and subversive activities which aim to overturn the government. It is our constitutional duty to legislate for a national security law.

"I hope the SAR government will forward a national security bill for discussion as soon as is practical," she told China Daily.

Ip said the 2003 version of the national security bill is inadequate and outdated. "National security threats are taking new forms — not necessarily in the form of treason, physical violence or declarations of war.

"New areas such as attacks on healthcare (facilities) and on epidemic areas, bio-chemical attacks, and causing financial turmoil, should be incorporated in the bill."

Former secretary for justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie agrees there is a need to enact a national security law. She also accepted that the seven offenses stipulated in Article 23 are no longer enough, suggesting new offenses be included.

Leung, also the deputy director of the Basic Law Committee, said: "National security has a lot to do with other areas such as biosecurity, cybersecurity and financial security, while provisions to tackle terrorism and spying should be added. This is because Hong Kong is being exploited by the United States and its allies to attack China.

"Hong Kong and Macao are obliged to safeguard national security. When the HKSAR government enacts a national security law, it should work with public and national security authorities in the mainland because this is a national affair — not something for Hong Kong alone."

Former commissioner of police Tang King-shing also recognized the need to promote national security education. He said Hong Kong people, especially the young, know little about the nation, and this needs to be improved.

Speaking to China Daily, Tang said: "Promotion of national security education is not a task for just one day, one month or one year, it is a legacy to pass on from generation to generation".

When he visited mainland cities as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Tang saw the promotion of national security education in exhibition halls. He hopes the HKSAR government will provide the same facilities to help people better understand the importance of national security.

Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said it is everyone's duty to safeguard national security. If the national security of a country is threatened, like Iraq, territorial integrity is lost and people have miserable lives.

He said external political forces are very active in Hong Kong, noting that foreigners gave orders at riot scenes last year, while rioters were provided with considerable financial resources and supplies.

Tam said: "It is crucial to enact Article 23 as soon as possible but it has been so often stigmatized. It is impossible to do so as only three months of the current legislative term remain. But we hope we can achieve this if pro-establishment lawmakers work hard to retain more than half of the seats in the Legislative Council election in September."