Lawmakers on Tuesday expressed their support for the homegrown national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law during the bill's second reading.

New People's Party chairwoman and former security minister Regina Ip said the legislative work this time round shoulders a "much greater responsibility" compared with 2003, adding that large-scale unrest like Occupy Central would not have happened if the law had been enacted 21 years ago.

"I believe there wouldn't be 79 days of Occupy Central back in 2014. It was glorified as a glamorous 'Umbrella Movement'. It was meant to disturb social order and overturn the government back then. In 2019, there were also violent acts, people would like to overturn the government," she said.

"In 2003, if we had successfully legislated for Article 23 legislation, we would have the relevant offences in place. Even if the offences may not be as detailed as the ones today, there could have been offences that can bring the lawbreakers to justice."

Starry Lee of the DAB said every jurisdiction has its own national security laws and enacting Article 23 is the constitutional duty of Hong Kong.

"National security law is important to one country as [it is] to other countries throughout the century. There is no exception to Chinese sovereignty... The drafting of the bill has made reference to the relevant laws of most foreign jurisdictions, with of course its own unique characteristics."

Election Committee lawmaker Peter Koon said the bill only targets a handful of people, adding that lawmakers want to "protect the interests of the people of Hong Kong".