Rotten chicken The report “Rotten chicken factory seized” (Oct. 13) was very upsetting, but at the same it underlined the need to be careful about the food that you buy at restaurants and cafeterias in Jeddah. It is good that the authorities were able to uncover the existence of an unlicensed and unhygienic factory where chickens in poor health were being slaughtered and sold to outlets in the city. This was not a small operation as the article says that it delivered 3,000 chickens a day to customers. The report also alleges that some well-known restaurants bought some of the unhealthy meat. This is hard to believe as a big restaurant would be unlikely to risk its reputation by possibly making its customers sick just to save a few riyals. However, the point is that the chickens were sold to outlets in the city. The authorities must be congratulated for raiding the operation and shutting it down. But they must also remain vigilant for there may be similar illegal projects which are a danger to the health of the general population. Abdullah Hassan, Online response Smart cards I am writing with regard to the article “Smart cards launched at Kingdom's airports” (Oct. 13). This is a great idea and I can't wait for it to be put into effect in all the airports in the Kingdom. All of our data including our fingerprints are already in the main computers of the Passports Department and other ministries. And the exit-return visas of expatriates are all issued and recorded electronically. So using a smart card to pass through passport control at the country's airports should not be technically difficult to arrange. And apparently it is already being tried out at the airports in Riyadh and Dammam. Those returning to the Kingdom will no longer have to wait in long queues at passport control. They will be able to pass quickly through the electronic gate by using their smart card. However, the time they save by using the smart card will most likely be spent waiting for their luggage to be delivered from the airplane, and at the moment, there are no signs of an attempt to institute “electronic baggage delivery”! Richard Mullins, Online delivery Private aviation The report “Private aviation is booming, asserts senior Saudia official” (Oct. 13) is good news. It is good to know that there will be an increase in the private charter jet business. With more competition, prices will come down and services will increase which is all to the benefit of the consumer. Ali Abdul Aziz, Online response __
