Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said on Thursday the public needs to be vigilant against national security risks at all times as the country and the SAR are subject to constant foreign attacks.

In the opening of an exhibition marking the 5th anniversary of the promulgation of the National Security Law, Lam said the public should never forget the painful lessons of 2019 when national security was under serious threat.

The justice chief stressed that as stated in the security law, every Chinese – including those in Hong Kong – are obliged to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Chinese people attach importance to walking the walk and not just talking the talk," Lam said.

"As national security is closely related to the personal well-being of all of us, it's only natural that we take up the responsibility of safeguarding national security."

Speaking at the same ceremony, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said there have been 326 arrests in national security-related cases as of the end of May, of which 165 people were convicted.

He said it's encouraging that officers have received more than 920,000 reports of suspected national security breaches on a hotline.

Separately, in an interview with Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, Lam stressed that the legal regime safeguarding national security will need to be improved constantly to guard against new types of potential risks.

The justice secretary went on to say that public awareness of national security has clearly increased.

Meanwhile, Tang told Sing Tao Daily and Ta Kung Pao that as the SAR is relatively inexperienced in terms of safeguarding national security, members of the disciplined forces must strengthen their awareness, knowledge and a sense of responsibility in this regard.

He said they'll go on exchange tours on the mainland and learn more from their counterparts.