Lam, founding president of pro-Beijing Medical Conscience, will be competing against Chan Wing-kwong from DAB and pharmacist Scarlett Pong Oi-lan in the Legislative Council elections to be held on December 19.

Speaking before handing in his nomination yesterday, Lam said it is Hong Kong's constitutional responsibility to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law, adding that the local legislation has already been delayed for some 20 years.

"No matter which place it is on Earth, it is a huge joke to delay legislation that is under its constitutional responsibility for decades," Lam said.

"The most important things to do are to safeguard citizens' rights and benefits that they deserve, and also protect national security - that is what we have to discuss and face in the future."

Lam sidestepped questions as to whether he will hold accountable medical workers who participated in a strike in February last year that was intended to force the government into implementing a full border closure amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

"As a medical worker, patients always come first, this is our bottom line. No matter what we do, we must not go past it and leave patients in the lurch," he said.

Standing in support of Lam was former Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man, who also supports Pong.

Ko did not say who he will vote for in the election, only saying that the election this time is different from previous ones as there will be no smear campaigns, and voters can decide based on the candidates' vision and proposals.

Meanwhile, the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong yesterday announced it will send eight candidates to run in the December polls.

Seven of them have already handed in their nominations while Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen submitted his reelection bid in the industrial (first) functional constituency.

Speculations within the political circle expect Leung to run alongside his son, Clarence Leung Wang-ching, however his son's name was not on the list.

BPA chairman Lo Wai-kwok said although Clarence Leung has done outstanding work, they have to consider the overall situation before deciding on supporting him. Lo added it is too early to say whether Andrew Leung will seek reelection as the Legco president if he is returned to the legislature.

Lam and Andrew Leung were in fact among the 10 candidates who submitted their nominations to run in the upcoming polls.

Other candidates include social worker Lam So-wai, who will run in the New Territories South East constituency as a replacement for Sai Kung district councillor Christine Fong Kwok-shan.

Fong was expected to launch a sixth bid to enter the legislature after five failed attempts since 2008, but she decided not to run as her father had passed away recently and she has to take care of her ailing mother.

Pro-democracy Tsuen Wan district councillor Adrian Lau Cheuk-yu will be running in New Territories South West and Junius Ho Kwan-yiu handed in his nominations to run in the Election Committee constituency.