Extensive search for lost watch sparks debate

Two sanitation workers in Datong, Shanxi province, spent four hours sifting through 8 metric tons of garbage to retrieve a watch lost by a child tourist, an incident that has sparked widespread debate across Chinese social media.

The extensive search, which took place on July 2, led many netizens to question the necessity and cost of such an effort, as well as whether the workers received additional rewards or if the tourist had special privileges. The watch, valued at about 1,000 yuan ($139), was misplaced by a child traveling with family from Guangdong province.

Xiao Zhigang, deputy head of Datong's city management bureau, addressed these concerns in a People's Daily report on Monday. He stated that the bureau, a service-oriented organization, prioritizes prompt action on requests forwarded through the 12345 hotline without excessive consideration of cost-effectiveness. Xiao confirmed that the tourist, identified only by her surname Lu, was an ordinary visitor with no special status. He assured the public that the sanitation workers involved would receive a commendation.