Public's opinions must be honestly heeded

On Wednesday, the local commodity price bureau in Lanzhou, capital of the Northwest China's Gansu province, held a "flash mob-style" public hearing on the price of gas for domestic use, giving rise to doubts about its sincerity. Unsurprisingly, the hearing, which lasted for just over half an hour, passed the decision to raise the price of gas with few objections. Comments:

A public hearing will lose its credibility and legitimacy if it fails to listen to a wide range of public opinions. Of course, residents are allowed to question a unanimously passed decision made at a hearing in which only a few people were present. All departments should fulfill their obligation to respond to the public doubts. In Lanzhou's case, both the representatives and the commodity price bureau need to reflect on their failure to listen to people's opinions in an honest and fair way.

gmw.cn, Aug 28