Ritachen, Tweety, and Sannyyan and myself talked about the English Salons more than once some time ago. Bascially we all agree that they are good places to make new friends, but it is very doubtful that one can improve his or her oral English by attending them. Just imagine a group of Hongkongites trying to learn Putonghua gather together in a Putonghua Salon, and start talking to one another in Putonghua. Unless they have a native Putonghua speaker at the salon to guide them and correct their mistakes, do you think their Putonghua will improve? No, it is more likely that it will get worse, as by such practising their mistakes will be reinforced and repeated again and again in future.