A few years back I was sitting across from some ICAC gents who were very politely asking me a great many questions while I in return was politely refusing to answer a single question. It was a long day, complete with media scrum outside. Yet, my lasting memory of the day was how sad it was to see these good and decent men doing the dirty work of Beijing.

In my job I often find myself in disagreements with good people. Someone thinks Apple Daily has wronged them or their family. A business dispute erupts into acrimony over actions none of us could control. Life happens, and if you are involved in enough of these fights you learn that labeling people good or bad based on sole events doesn't really work.

It especially does not work in Hong Kong, where we have for the most part good and decent people in our government, but who at times are forced to walk away from the public interest to undertake Beijing's commands. We have cops who keep us safe, but lock up peaceful student activists. We have an education department that deeply cares about the children of Hong Kong yet grudgingly slips in communist propaganda to school lessons. We even have a Chief Executive who knows full well the Hong Kong people would benefit from lower taxes, yet as Beijing doesn't want to compete with an even lower tax Hong Kong, Carrie Lam offers Hong Kong people no financial relief.

All the above are negative acts against the people of Hong Kong. Yet, all are done, by men and women, including our Chief Executive, who, for now, we would happily have as our neighbors.

As we face off with government over our freedoms, or even taxation, it is important to remember that, aside from the United Front, we might be best served by granting our political opponents the premise they are good and decent people. Such an approach offers two benefits.

First it keeps things civil at the outset, which most of Hong Kong appreciates. More importantly, it offers a fair and honest chance for political judgment and then action on that judgment. Sooner or later Beijing's blood money infects the soul. Good people become bad people. Idea's, polices, hope are all wonderful political motivators. But throughout history the greatest force for political change is the most basic, get rid of the bad guys.

Ironically, what Beijing turns bad may well end up being good for Hong Kong.