Hongkongers have endured several years of hardship – the protests which became violent and then three years of Covid-19. And yes, it will take us time to revive Hong Kong’s can-do spirit.

As your correspondent says, to attract international visitors and showcase Hong Kong as a “city of hospitality”, we must improve our infrastructure. We particularly need to pay attention to road maintenance and the beautification of our thoroughfares.

And then there’s the attitude of people in the service industry, from salespeople in stores to taxi drivers. We seriously need to launch a charm offensive if we are to bring back tourists.

Visiting friends recently travelled to mainland China and had issues with their visas. On the mainland side, they were greeted with help and consideration but on the Hong Kong side, they encountered rudeness. What sort of message does this send when these visitors tell of their experiences back home?

A taxi driver can be a big part of a tourist’s first encounter with the city. Many drivers are very accommodating but some are just downright rude and miserable, and so often have poor driving skills.

Finally, the decreasing use of English is not helping us. Any international city must have proficient English speakers. So many pamphlets are written in Chinese with barely any English translation.

We must do better if we are to revive the economy and improve the lot of all in our beautiful city.

Marguerite Lee, Mid-Levels