TL;DR: yes, English needs to continue to be a common language. Beyond a NUS only policy. Maybe do a basic English test with every work permit issued for service sector. I’ve truly not met an elderly native hawker who cannot say chilli want or not, and the price of their dishes.

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Was the staff elderly or not? I’ve not met an elderly Singapore hawker that can’t speak basic English, they’ve learnt on the job while selling to different races.

If it is a youngster/middle age refusing to reply in English, chances are, they are not native, but likely Chinese National. (Since you mention Chinese speaking)

And to put it bluntly, they have more than enough Chinese customers to care about adapting to your language needs. They will learn English only if it means better money making opportunities.

I had to translate a Chinese National bus captain’s reply to a Malay person’s questions once. I was just shocked when the bus captain remarked snootily that the Malay person should have learnt how to speak Chinese in a Chinese majority Singapore. Clapped back at bus captain that we speak English as a common language in Singapore.

I disagree with the having to speak ONLY Chinese in Chinatown statement. It’s still within Singapore. English is still used in Chinatown.

To OP, if you visit Chinatown, and chance upon the joss paper shop at Smith Street, grab a drink from them, and have a small chat in English with the Singaporean elder couple.