Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday hailed the passage of homegrown national security legislation as ‘historic’, saying the city should be proud that it has finally fulfilled its constitutional duty to enact the legislation as mandated by Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Addressing lawmakers after they unanimously passed the legislation, Lee thanked them for their work in helping the city live up to the country’s trust and expectations.

“Today [Tuesday] marks a historic moment for Hong Kong. It is a historic moment that Hong Kong has been waiting for 26 years, eight months and 19 days,” he said.

“It is a proud moment for all of the HKSAR in collectively making glorious history... The constitutional responsibility and historic mission of legislating for Article 23 of the Basic Law have finally been fulfilled.”

The CE said he will sign the bill and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will formally come into effect on Saturday.

Lee said the legislation – which outlaws offences such as treason, insurrection, theft of state secrets, espionage, sabotage and external interference – will allow the city to stand up to security threats.

“We can effectively prevent ‘black-clad violence’ and ‘colour revolution’. We can effectively prevent ‘Hong Kong independence’ and violent destruction. We no longer need to worry about saboteurs’ ‘mutual destruction’ threats in Hong Kong and their acts of damaging public facilities, throwing petrol bombs, setting fires, assaulting citizens with differing opinions, pushing Hong Kong into an abyss, and destroying years of our city’s development,” he said.

“From now on, the people of Hong Kong will no longer experience these harms and sorrows.”

Lee thanked officials and legislators for drafting the bill and vetting it as quickly as possible, as well as everyone who loves the country and Hong Kong for supporting the legislation.

He added that with the legislation now passed, Hong Kong can now turn its focus to building up its economy and improving people's livelihoods.