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HMs are on a separate non-battle moves list and pokemon always has them.
Each pokemon specie has a different set list of HM abilities it knows.
You need badges/macguffin to access them as usual so the devs have control over game progression but there is less HM management slave pokemon bullshit.
Add in new TMs for surf/etc... that require the pokemon to have the specific HM ability to learn them. This way they can still be used as combat moves if someone really wants them.
