Chinese officials given the boot for feasting during fatal Shanghai stampede

banquet while a New Year’s Eve stampede killed 36 people. Seven others have been disciplined over the tragedy on Shanghai’s riverfront Bund area, which happened at about 11.30pm after a popular annual light show was cancelled. District Communist Party secretary Zhou Wei and government chief Peng Song were among those who reportedly dined for free at Japanese restaurant Utsusemi, where dinners can cost up to £400 a head. The company that owns the restaurant is involved in the property sector and has strong ties with Shanghai officials.

The incident of December 31 should not have happened and was totally avoidable. We feel very pained, guilty and responsible for this.

Shanghai deputy mayor Zhou Bo, speaking at a press conference

An investigation into the stampede found there had been insufficient preparations on the riverfront and authorities had been too slow to respond once the stampede happened. Shanghai deputy mayor Zhou Bo said the city sent its “deepest condolences” and “deepest apologies” to families of the victims. The restaurant the officials were dining in at the time of the stampede reportedly ran a scheme that allowed officials to sign for meals that were then claimed for from the public purse. The city government said the meal, in which officials had sushi and noodles washed down with Japanese sake, broke the Communist Party’s frugality rules.

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