4月19日晚，江苏泰州滨江工业园区管委会在其内部的接待中心进行豪华宴请，遭到群众围堵。管委会一负责人现场向群众下跪认错，视频、照片上网后引起较大反响。4月21日，泰州市及高新区两级纪委已成立工作组，对此事展开调查。一位群众展示的现场照片显示，照片中的人在民警和群众围观下，手持扩音喇叭，跪在餐桌上。“他给我们跪下后说，放过我吧，我错了。我也是父母的子女，我也是农村出身的。放过我吧，我认错。”该群众说。

　　Authorities said they would severely punish violations of the guidelines against lavish official spending after a group of officials in Jiangsu Province were exposed to attend an expensive banquet by indignant residents who blocked the officials from leaving, China News Service reported yesterday.

　　Nearly 1,000 people blocked the reception center of the administrative committee of Binjiang Industrial Zone in Taizhou City for hours last Friday night, asking for an explanation after some residents went into the banquet room and were shocked by what they saw.

　　Zhang Aihua, Party secretary of the industrial zone, knelt on the table and kowtowed to the angry crowd, according to the report.

　　"I am wrong, please forgive me. You can ask me to do whatever, only if you let me go," Zhang beseeched the crowd over a bullhorn. The officials at the dinner banquet were not allowed to leave until about 11pm, witnesses said.

　　There were four tables, with high-end cigarettes, premium liquor such as Wuliangye, and costly cuisines served to each diner. Witnesses estimated each meal would have cost at least 10,000 yuan (US$1,612). There were around three dozen officials attending the banquet.

　　Residents who live near the center said they saw more than 10 cars entering the site, which triggered their suspicions.

　　Some people took photos and videos of the banquet and posted them online. The posts triggered an uproar as netizens called for punishment.