I READ the last few paragraphs of the letter, "Can S'pore ever be an Asian Tiger with grace?"' (my paper, Oct 29), with amazement. Was the writer even talking about the same Hong Kong I know?

I visited Hong Kong three months ago, and did not encounter many service staff members who spoke good English, with the exception of a staff member at an MTR service counter. Service staff, such as those in shoe shops and restaurants, spoke mainly Cantonese, and spoke Mandarin only when requested.

Some even continued to speak in Cantonese although I told them that I could not speak it. And I certainly did not experience much courtesy in Hong Kong.

Hong Kongers jumped the queue I was in on two occasions when I was struggling to communicate with service staff who spoke very limited English.

I do not deny that Singapore still has a long way to go when it comes to social graces. However, Singapore is not that far behind Western countries, and I dare say that it is quite ahead of most Asian countries, considering its young age.

Most of the time, bad experiences are due to "bad luck". It is good to highlight Singapore's shortcomings so that people can be aware of them, but I can't help feeling that some people are too harsh.

Also, mid-range Western restaurants in Asia customarily do not serve three-course meals. If a meal includes soup, dessert and tea or coffee, it means that you're ordering an "added-value meal", and not a three-course meal per se.

I was very happy when my plane landed "home" in Changi - yes, this Singapore permanent resident from Indonesia has come to think of this adopted country as her home.

Ms Felicia Wong