'Sales staff in France and Germany do not all converse with their foreign customers in English as well, but in French or German.'

MR TIM MOU HUI, who said: 'In Japan, many service staff speak in Japanese. Yet, visitors have nothing but praise for Japan's excellent standards of service. In Hong Kong, I was spoken to most of the time in Cantonese, a dialect I was not familiar with, but I was never in doubt of the sincere and professional service.'

IF MAIDS MUST, WHY NOT THE OTHERS?

'If the Government can make it mandatory for foreign maids to pass a basic English language test, I see no reason why a similar requirement cannot be mandated for foreign workers, especially those in frontline service jobs.'

MR JAGGI R. KUMAR

TAKE WORKERS FROM ELSEWHERE

'I am surprised that the Government is not concerned about their inability to communicate in English.'

MS SHARON TAN, who added: 'Singapore is being overwhelmed by workers in the frontline who can speak only Mandarin - from small clothing stores to major department stores, to 7-Eleven and even counter staff at petrol stations. Perhaps employers should consider workers from Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam or India. These nationalities at least try to communicate in English, or can speak English well. Just because we look or are Chinese, we shouldn't be expected to speak Mandarin.

IN CASE YOU'RE UNAWARE...

'Sad that in this day and age, when China is emerging as a world economic power, there are still some among us who think that we must speak in English to provide world-class service.'

MR TAN CHEK TECK

NOT NATIONAL LANGUAGE...

'English is not our national language and should, in no way, be assumed to be a language that everyone in the country is competent in.'

MR STEVEN NG

...BUT FIRST TONGUE

'As Singapore's first language is English, shouldn't it be reinforced, especially in the service industry?'

MISS SITI ZARINAH ABDUL RAHMAN

13,500 HITS LATER...

'Nearly everyone who walked in, including the non-Chinese, were greeted in Mandarin.'

MS ELLOUISA CHEN, whose letter on May 3 sparked some 13,500 hits online and more than 500 postings and letters. Many agreed with her while just as many felt she was unfair to the boutique's China service staff who spoke to her in Mandarin. Her reply to critics: 'First, I do not look Chinese. Second, Singapore is always promoting the use of good English. How can we achieve that if we were to speak Mandarin to every customer who walks in? Lastly, almost everyone who walked into the boutique, including the non-Chinese, was greeted in Mandarin.'

THE REAL CHALLENGE

'The issue is not with speaking in Mandarin, but rather, the ability to converse in English, when required.'

MISS LOW FANG YIN