Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said he is confident that Hong Kong can play a bigger role in helping the nation make its voice heard in the international legal system.

At a legal forum in the territory, Lee said the SAR government is doing all it can to strengthen the rule of law and support the judiciary in carrying out its duties.

"Hong Kong is doing all it can to provide quality and diverse legal and arbitration services for overseas enterprises, providing strong legal backing for corporations," he said.

"At the same time, the SAR is proactively helping with the country's major demands for international legal talent. That continuously raises the level of cooperation between mainland and international organisations."

The CE said Hong Kong must voluntarily protect national security and the rule of law – to provide a stable and safe environment for businesses here and across the country.

Speaking at the same function, justice minister Paul Lam said national security and stability are key in maintaining a superior business environment.

He said the national security law only targets a very small amount of people and the authorities have to abide by strict procedural requirements when enforcing restrictions on suspects, including the freezing of their assets.

Lam said the rights of the people affected are protected under the law and they can file legal challenges against relevant judicial decisions.