Law students from Hong Kong studying in Australia are among those to be granted graduate working visas and possible permanent residency after they finish their degrees following the introduction of the new national security law by China.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a five-year graduate visa from the conclusion of their studies, with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of the five years.

The number includes some 78 Hong Kong students were enrolled to study law as of April this year, although they may not all be in Australia, according to data from the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

"Australia has a long history of attracting Hong Kong's best and brightest who have contributed significantly to our economic growth and job creation, and we are committed to ensuring this is further strengthened," Morrison said in a statement.

Temporary skilled workers from Hong Kong will also be eligible.

The graduate visa offer comes after the introduction in Hong Kong last month of a national security law which cracks down on "secession, subversion, organisation and perpetration of terrorist activities," as well as collusion with foreign countries to endanger national security.

The Asian Australian Lawyers Association didn't respond to requests for comment.

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