Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa yesterday claimed the government's consultation document on Article 23 legislation had received a 'good response and support from all walks of life'. On a day when two separate demonstrations opposing the legislation took place, Mr Tung hailed support for the anti-sedition law in a speech to mark National Day. Addressing guests at a cocktail reception in the Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Mr Tung reiterated how Hong Kong was obliged to enact the law, saying: 'It's completely necessary and [we are] duty-bound to do so.' He went on: 'The good response and support from all walks of life in the community in the consultation document on Article 23 legislation are indeed gratifying.' But Martin Lee Chu-ming, Democratic Party chairman and a member of the now-defunct Basic Law drafting committee, said: 'I believe what Mr Tung sees is very lop-sided. There are many people within the community who are very worried about it.' Earlier in his speech, Mr Tung called on the people of Hong Kong to refrain from underestimating their strengths because the territory had a good legal system, a free and open economy and a clean government. He said the government's biggest challenge was to lead Hong Kong out of its economic woes and restore confidence in the future. Some 30 protesters led by the Democrats yesterday marched to petition Mr Tung and Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee over the planned anti-subversion laws. Chanting slogans and waving banners, the protesters marched from Chater Garden to the Central Government Offices. They wore white gloves on which two Chinese characters meaning 'terror' were written, symbolising the panic that opponents of the laws say the legislation has inspired. Protesters' spokesman Albert Ho Chun-yan, also a Democratic Party legislator, said such a law was unnecessary in Hong Kong, given its social stability. Mr Ho also warned that the government proposals were too harsh and could easily be abused to criminalise speech and to suppress dissidents Beijing disliked. Separately, about 180 Falun Gong practitioners staged a sit-in outside the Convention Centre. Spokeswoman Sharon Xu said they were worried by the attempt at 'hasty enactment' of laws. Falun Gong practitioners also expressed concern at the refusal by Mrs Ip to issue a white bill detailing the laws. 'Officials are trying to quell substantive fears with sweet words and verbal promises without concrete legal restrictions in place, but we have learnt to look at actions, not words,' Ms Xu said. 'The whole process seems like self-promotion and we feel the government is not showing genuine respect for the public in Hong Kong.' Yesterday the group voiced fears about the discretion granted to the secretary for security to ban organisations affiliated to groups banned on the mainland for security reasons. Solicitor-General Robert Allcock said last week the Falun Gong would not fall into this category as it has been banned as a cult, not as a threat to national security.