Unfortunately, a career civil servant is a completely different species of animal from a real political leader. Lam admitted as much recently when she said she was an administrator but not a politician. After the horror of the months-long civil unrest that began last year in what had been one of the world’s safest and most stable societies, who would disagree with her self-assessment?

Sadly, administrators, however brilliant and competent, have proven themselves completely incapable of dealing with the worst political crisis in Hong Kong’s history.

The real tragedy of Hong Kong is that while we have world-class political problems, we have only pitiful and pathetic amateurs playing realpolitik in both the local opposition and the Hong Kong government. The city could have had the best of all deals: respect for our autonomy from the central government and an independent customs status and financial hub for the rest of the world. Unfortunately, we have decided to squander it.

In one camp, we think we are part of the Western world and must have their so-called freedom and democracy. In the opposing camp, we insist we are Chinese and must do our patriotic duty for the motherland. Oh dear, we could have the best of both worlds if we just play it cool, letting democratisation to slowly work its way while integrating into the rest of China.

But no, our opposition has to invite in American intervention and our government invites Beijing’s. Now we have the worst of both worlds.