The government on Tuesday banned the operation of the "Hong Kong Parliament" and the "Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union" with immediate effect.

"Having carefully considered all relevant information, including the representations submitted by the 'Hong Kong Parliament', the Secretary for Security reasonably believes that the prohibition of the operation or continued operation of the 'Hong Kong Parliament' and the 'Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union' in the HKSAR is necessary for safeguarding national security," a spokesman for the Security Bureau said.

The bureau issued written notices to the two groups last week for them to make representations ahead of a decision.

It said on Tuesday representations from the "Hong Kong Parliament" were received before the deadline but that no representations from "Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union" were received.

The bureau added that the Secretary for Security exercised the power conferred by the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, by order published in the gazette, to prohibit the operation or continued operation of the two groups with immediate effect.