Local govts urged to improve handling of hot spot issues

Following several recent incidents involving food security, labor rights and law enforcement, some experts have acknowledged that while China attaches great importance to public opinion on hot spot issues and addresses people's concerns, room for improvement remains.

Each of these recent incidents triggered heated discussion among netizens.

In response, the local governments involved made a series of efforts to clarify misconceptions and rebuild government credibility.

"In the internet era, local governments have adopted a more open approach to public opinion, actively incorporating feedback from the public into governance," said Guo Xiaoping, vice-president of the Journalism and Information Communication School at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province.

"It reflects the development of a modern governance that places higher demands on the ability to handle emergencies," Guo said.

Recently, an incident in Datong, Shanxi province, in which two sanitation workers spent four hours sorting through 8 metric tons of garbage to retrieve a smartwatch misplaced by a child drew widespread skepticism from netizens. Many questioned whether such an effort was necessary and worthwhile.

Local authorities responded in a People's Daily interview, explaining that such assistance would be provided to locals and tourists alike.

They said the government would take criticism from netizens, give rewards to the workers, and create a fund to award sanitation workers who go out of their way to help others.

In Linyi, Shandong province, a restaurant owner was about to be fined 450,000 yuan ($62,600) for violating advertising laws by posting a video about toad soup. The punishment sparked a public outcry.

On Tuesday, local authorities released a notice, saying that they had revoked the penalty and suspended five officials for misconduct in law enforcement.

When doubts about information authenticity and conspiracy theories were viral after over 200 children at a kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu province, were found to have abnormally high levels of lead in their blood, the province announced on Saturday that it would put together a team to carry out an elevated investigation and make the results of the probe available to the public.

"Social media provides a platform for public participation in discussions on trending social issues, strengthening interaction between citizens and the government," said Ran Aobo, a researcher at Tsinghua University's Institute for Urban Governance and Sustainable Development. "Public opinion emerges when existing information fails to meet the public's demand for truth."

According to Ran, all parties interact with the same interface in cyberspace. However, in China's government, decisions are usually transmitted top-down, resulting sometimes in lengthy procedures, delayed information releases and fragmented communication — traits that struggle to meet the public's need for timely feedback.

Local governments are now undergoing self-reform to adapt to the new media landscape shaped by informatization and digitalization, and improve their crisis management capabilities.

Geng Yun, an associate professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics' School of Government, pointed to the country's commitment to consultative democracy. Channels like the 12345 hotline provide prompt responses to unheeded complaints.

"The government's increased attentiveness to public opinion reflects its emphasis on people's livelihood," Geng said. "It demonstrates the government's dedication to addressing citizens' needs."

chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn