"Local Party chief Han Junhong has owed me 700,000 yuan ($115,000) for three years. Township officials pay bills with IOUs."

Those were the words on a banner put up by the owner of a restaurant in Wangluo town, Xiangcheng county, Henan province, calling for government officials to pay off the debt on Thursday. Media reported that local government officials gave IOUs to the restaurant whenever they held reception banquets there over the past three years. The owner finally received the money he was due on Friday after the banner attracted widespread attention.