Lawmaker Regina Ip said on Sunday she thinks few people are leaving Hong Kong because of the upcoming drafting of local national security legislation.

"People always move in and out of Hong Kong, there have been previous waves of emigration.....They eventually come back because Hong Kong is the most suitable place for Hong Kong people. And some families are leaving for their children's education," she said on a TVB programme.

The lawmaker said some expatriates have left the SAR in the short term because of the anti-epidemic measures, and she thinks many of those in the business community will return later when the measures are eased.

Ip - who is a member of John Lee's Chief Executive campaign team - said it's up to the incoming government to decide when to kick start the legislative process for Article 23 of the Basic Law.

She said the process will be transparent as people can express their views on the matter in the legislature.

The New People's Party chairwoman added that the incoming government should not spend time on political reform because that will only lead to controversy.