Legislative Council President Andrew Leung has expressed confidence that lawmakers can approve new national security legislation next year.

Speaking on a TV programme, Mr Leung noted that it is the SAR’s constitutional duty under Article 23 of the Basic Law to enact such legislation, likening it to a debt that the city has owed the central government for the past 26 years.

"There is enough time next year. The government can table it to Legco during the summer break or even afterwards," Leung said.

Although the government hasn’t said precisely when it will table a bill, the Legco chief says he thinks things will go smoothly.

"The most important thing is that society reaches a consensus and agrees on [the Article 23], and the legislation work will be easy. Of course we will scrutinise each provision very carefully."

Mr Leung added that the patriots-only legislature has successfully resolved many long-standing issues, halfway into its four-year term.

He dismissed suggestions that the legislature is a rubber stamp, saying members had proposed many amendments that were ultimately adopted by the government.