THE interests of Hongkong people may have been sacrificed in exchange for better Sino-British relations, the United Democrats warned yesterday.
Vice-chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan told a City Forum Hongkong people should be cautious about the easing of antagonism between the two governments.
He said relations between China and Britain had improved after British Foreign Minister Douglas Hurd's mainland visit last week, few details of which have been released.
''The Chinese and British Governments both owe the people of Hongkong an open account of the negotiations,'' Mr Ho said.
''Now that we know so little about their discussions, it really worries me that the good atmosphere might be built at our expense.'' Mr Ho also asked the two Governments to speed up their talks by focusing on key issues.
''I hope that in the coming talks, the British and the Chinese sides really get serious and go to the core of the debate, talk about the election committee, talk about the functional constituency and the through-train problem.'' It was possible Britain might withhold its support for Hongkong's democratisation and Hongkong people should always be prepared to go into battle on their own, he said.
His worries were not shared by the conservatives, who welcomed the easing in Sino-British relations.