Lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill to amend the Trade Unions Ordinance, giving the government office responsible for administering these groups more power to supervise and regulate them.

Authorities welcomed the decision and said the changes would help trade unions “better fulfill the duty of safeguarding national security.”

"The amended Trade Unions Ordinance can ensure that trade unions uphold the principal object of safeguarding and promoting the occupational interests of their members, which will be conducive to the healthy development of trade unions," a government spokesman said.

The amendments take into account the freedom and right of Hong Kong residents to form and join such groups and will not adversely affect the operation of law-abiding trade unions, the government added.

The bill will be gazetted on July 4 and take effect on January 5.