Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. US Lawmakers Object to China's Proposed Law to Limit Hong Kong Opposition Activity VOA News U.S. reaction was swift Thursday to reports that China's Parliament will propose legislation to protect security in Hong Kong in response to pro-democracy protests in the territory last year that often turned violent. "Reports that the CCP [Communist Party of China] will introduce legislation implementing Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law at this week's National People's Congress indicate Beijing will begin an unprecedented assault against Hong Kong's autonomy," Senators James Risch, Marco Rubio and Cory Gardner of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a statement. Article 23 of the Basic Law says the Hong Kong government shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition or subversion against the central government. An attempt to implement the article failed in 2003 in the face of large demonstrations. 'Grave concern' to US "The United States will stand resolute in its support of the Hong Kong people. These developments are of grave concern to the United States and could lead to a significant reassessment on U.S. policy towards Hong Kong," the senators' statement added. "I strongly urge the Chinese Communist Party not to impose additional oppressive legislation disguised as 'national security' on Hong Kong," U.S. Representative Michael McCaul of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement. "Any law passed by the CCP that further stifles the freedom of the people of Hong Kong would only further erode the foundations of One Country, Two Systems, and will not be tolerated by the United States. We stand with the people of Hong Kong, who are fighting for freedom over oppression, and for democracy over the CCP's tyranny." .