I am one of many teachers, both local and from overseas, working in Chinese schools in Hong Kong, attempting to improve English standards here. I am constantly asked about what students should watch to improve their English. The list is diminishing all the time. The reality is there is almost no English TV in Hong Kong. There is no English TV during the day, and one of the English channels at night is constantly televising Macau Racing in Nicam, which holds no interest for Westerners, nor can I advise my students to take up gambling to further their English. Furthermore, satellite TV, no longer provides any options. Star TV has put Hong Kong into the backwater (to which it should become accustomed) by shutting down seven of its eight English-language channels via satellite. Star, however, has not cut off Phoenix. It makes me ashamed to be a shareholder in News Corp. I would also like to point out that the digital satellite receiver may have cost $3,500, but the satellite system itself cost me considerably more. I find it outrageous that Star is trying to blame its sub-contractors for not informing customers when Star did not keep them informed. My satellite contractor was the only reliable part of the whole deal. He did tell me it was possible for some channels to go, but no one expected them all to disappear. I would also like to point out that in Operating Instructions for the Star TV digital satellite receiver, which was my official communication from Star when I had the satellite system installed less than a year ago, all the channels that have been deleted were advertised. If it is not a breach of contract, it is certainly a breach of trust. I now have an expensive system that will bring me one channel. I can make my personal protest by selling my News Corp shares; but I believe the SAR Government has to decide if it wants English to flourish in Hong Kong. It has far more lobbying power than I do. Does it have a commitment, or not, to English-language development? If it does, it should be lobbying Star TV, not to mention the 'free-to-air' English channels, to deliver meaningful English-language programmes to assist in the English development of its youth. K. WILLIAMS Sai Kung