Various sectors of Hong Kong on Thursday hailed the nation's top legislature's approval of a draft decision to introduce a national security law for Hong Kong.

Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, said NPC's endorsement of this legislation is necessary and urgently needed, adding the law will protect the city's economy and people's livelihood.

Voicing support for the decision, Leung also advised the government to double down on efforts to explain the need and importance of the law for local and international communities, to dispel concerns.

Martin Liao Cheung-kong, convenor of the Legislative Council's pro-establishment camp, said they "firmly support" the NPC's resolution, approved by an overwhelming majority. He noted the legislation will close a gap in China's national security system, which has manifested in a year of street violence and terrorism-like attacks.

As of noon of Thursday, over 1.85 million people in Hong Kong have signed a petition supporting the national security legislation for Hong Kong, according to a signature campaign launched by an alliance made up by various sectors in the city.

Among the endorsers of the legislation are Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who signed the petition on Thursday morning at a street booth in North Point, and top officials of the SAR government.

According to a statement from the city's biggest labor union, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, separatists have gone all-out to "beg for" foreign intervention since the nation's top legislature revealed its plan to introduce national security legislation for Hong Kong. This shows the proposed legislation has hit home and vindicates the legislation as imperative, the statement said.