Have you tried breaking down your requests for more affection into smaller, very specific requests? And putting some 'space' between the requests?
You both know there is a problem, right? So if you said to him, "I've told you I would like to have more intimacy and affection with you, and I see how hard you are trying. One of the things you could do, if it hasn't occured to you, is hug me at least ___ times a day. I love to hug, and they mean a lot to me. Hugs that are kind of like this (and show him). Can you do that for me, please?"
Do not forget to ask him to do that for you. Dropping hints does not cut it. I used to wait for my H to notice or understand my needs -- and he would, from his POV. And I'd appreciate his efforts, but it wasn't what I really wanted.
So now, yes, I spell it out for him, and like I said above, sometimes it takes me a little while to figure out specifically what I want, and how it is he can give that to me, then I ask for it, non-confrontationally, and I don't let him off the hook if he says it's something he thinks he can do.
This may be way too simplistic for your situation, but who knows...
