The report said the stampede tragedy falls under a public security matter and that public security authorities need to be held responsible.

Lax security

An investigative report showed that the public security bureau at Huangpu district arranged only 350 policemen on the Bund and the Nanjing road, while a number of residents and tourists thought there would be a large-scale New Year count-down event which was cancelled.

Pudong district govt head and Party chief removed from post

The report on the incident recommends punishments for 11 officials.

The report suggests four top district officials, including the Huangpu District party secretary, district government chief and police chief and deputy police chief, be sacked for insufficient preparation and response in the New Year's Eve stampede.

The city's investigation report blames the officials for insufficient precautions, poor site management and congestion at the site of the stampede in the city's historic riverfront Bund area.

Seven other officials in tourism, public security and urban management, were disciplined.

Officials dined at high-end Bund restaurant will be punished

Officials of Huangpu district government in Shanghai who had dined at a high-end restaurant on the New Year's Eve when the deadly stampede happened will be punished for violating the Party's frugality codes, an investigative report suggested Wednesday.

The report said several officials, including Zhou Wei, secretary of the Huangpu district committee of the CPC, were invited by Zhou Xumin, chairmen of the State-owned Shanghai Bund Investment Group, to have dinner at the restaurant, in which Zhou's company has investment, on Dec 31, 2014. The bill of the dinner was 2,700 yuan ($434) but was not charged. The officials left for the stampede spot upon hearing the news.

The officials involved will be punished for misusing public funds and violating the Party's frugality codes. The public will be kept informed about further developments, the announcement said.

(china.org)