The question of Hong Kong’s status continues to generate intense debate as it seeks to move on from five turbulent and transformative years of protests, pandemic and political change.

Residents will have their own views on whether the city is back. I was among those who departed, in August 2022, after 28 years.

But the rebuilding of an international reputation is all about perception. Hong Kong will only be back when the world believes that to be the case. There is still much work to be done.

Where is Hong Kong trying to bounce back from? Opinions will differ on the lowest point in the city’s recent history.

For me, it was March 2022, when after two years of tough travel curbs and social distancing restrictions, Covid-19 spread rapidly, hospitals overflowed and the death toll mounted.

There were plans for mandatory mass testing and new quarantine facilities were being built. The city was isolated from the rest of the world. It was a miserable time.

Thankfully, those days are long gone. In that sense, the return of tourists and hosting of international events, both sadly missed during the pandemic, signal Hong Kong is back.

But it is not just the response to Covid-19 that altered perceptions overseas. Months of civil unrest in 2019 undermined the city’s reputation for being safe and orderly. Peace has since been restored.

This, however, came at a cost. Beijing’s backlash – a sweeping national security law, the arrests that followed and political reforms excluding all but “patriots” – has, for many, created a negative image, especially in the West.

Where does Hong Kong want to get back to? Some reminisce about 2018, before the troubles began. Others might go back further.

Ten years ago, the hot topic was democratic reform. A public consultation had just concluded on plans for the chief executive to be elected by universal suffrage in 2017. How times have changed. Those heady days are unlikely to return.

Hong Kong is now following a different path as it battles to recover from the lasting economic and psychological impact of recent years.

There will be more integration with mainland China as the city develops its role within the Greater Bay Area. The overwhelming majority of professionals, students and tourists arriving in the city are from across the border.

Hong Kong aims to become a hub of hubs, an international centre not just for finance, but also culture, legal services, technology, medicine and education. It has been designated China’s “superconnector” with the world.

To play that role effectively the city needs to change negative perceptions overseas. This will involve much more than “telling good stories about Hong Kong”.

The mega events will help draw people to the city so they can see it for themselves. But efforts must be made to also reach out to critics in the West rather than bombarding them with fiery mainland-style rhetoric.

Success will depend as much on what Hong Kong does as what it says. Suggestions of a softer approach following the passing of domestic security laws in March, are therefore encouraging. Switching the focus from national security to economic recovery would help.

Is Hong Kong back? It never went away. After all it has endured, the city still has so much to offer. But success will depend on convincing the world it remains a special part of China, very different to the mainland, and retains some of the free and freewheeling spirit of the past.