NY homeless angry at China tycoon 'publicity stunt'

Members of the media and fans attend a lunch and press conference held by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese recycling magnate, who hosted to event as a lunch for approximately 200 homeless people, at The BoatHouse in Central Park, on June 25, 2014 in New Yor
Members of the media and fans attend a lunch and press conference held by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese recycling magnate, who hosted to event as a lunch for approximately 200 homeless people, at The BoatHouse in Central Park, on June 25, 2014 in New York City. -- PHOTO: AFP
Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao performs magic tricks during a lunch he sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The Boathouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People leave after Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao hosted a lunch for several hundred homeless people from the New York City Rescue Mission on June 25, 2014 at The Boathouse restaurant in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
Chinese millionaire Chen Guangbiao applauds as self-immolation victim Chen Guo leads a singalong of a Chinese song during a lunch he sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The Boathouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Men hold US$300 in cash given to them by Chinese millionaire Chen Guangbiao during a lunch he sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The Boathouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People react after finding out they will not be receiving money that they had been promised outside the New York Rescue Mission in the Manhattan borough of New York on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Men wait outside the New York City Rescue Mission for US$300 promised to them by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese recycling magnate, who hosted a lunch for approximately 200 homeless people on June 25, 2014 in New York City. -- PHOTO: AFP
Mr Harry Brooks dances during a lunch and press conference held by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese recycling magnate, who hosted the event for approximately 200 homeless people, at The BoatHouse in Central Park, on June 25, 2014 in New York City. -- PHOTO: AFP
Dessert is served during a lunch and press conference held by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese recycling magnate and the self-proclaimed most influential person of China, who hosted the event as a lunch for approximately 200 homeless people and promised them money, but later revoked the promise, at The BoatHouse in Central Park, on June 25, 2014 in New York City. -- PHOTO: AFP
Leroy Brown reacts after finding out he will not be receiving money that had been promised him outside the New York Rescue Mission in the Manhattan borough of New York on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao (centre) greets volunteers dressed in green Chinese military uniforms (left) before hosting a luncheon for several hundred homeless people on June 25, 2014 at The Boathouse restaurant in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP 
People clap during a lunch and press conference held by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese recycling magnate worth approximately $400 million and the self-proclaimed most influential person of China, who hosted the event as a lunch for approximately 200 homeless people and promised them money, but later revoked the promise, at The BoatHouse in Central Park, on June 25, 2014 in New York City. -- PHOTO: AFP 
Men eat as Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao hosts a lunch for several hundred homeless people from the New York City Rescue Mission on June 25, 2014 at The Boathouse restaurant in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
A waiter serves meals as Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao hosts a lunch for several hundred homeless people from the New York City Rescue Mission on June 25, 2014 at The Boathouse restaurant in New York's Central Park. -- PHOTO: AFP
Ernest St. Pierre yells as he finds out that he will not be given $300 by Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao during a lunch sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The BoatHouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A waiter serves dessert to a table of men listening to Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao during a lunch he sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The BoatHouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao stands with men to whom he has given US$300 during a lunch he sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The BoatHouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People wear communist-era uniform costumes as they wait to meet Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao during a lunch he sponsored for hundreds of needy New Yorkers at The BoatHouse in New York's Central Park on June 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Chen Guangbiao (centre), a Chinese recycling magnate worth approximately $400 million and the self-proclaimed most influential person of China, poses for a photo with two homeless men, who he gave $300 to during a lunch he hosted for approximately 200 homeless people, at The BoatHouse in Central Park, on June 25, 2014 in New York City. -- PHOTO: AFP

NEW YORK (AFP) - A three-course lunch hosted by an eccentric Chinese millionaire for 250 homeless New Yorkers in a posh restaurant degenerated into fury on Wednesday when guests were denied US$300 (S$375) cash handouts.

It had seemed such a good idea. Recycling tycoon Chen Guangbiao last week took out ads in American newspapers promising a first-rate meal at the Boathouse in Central Park and US$300 each.

Guests were bused in and treated to a sit-down meal of seared tuna, filet mignon and seasonal berries, waited on by staff in suits and bow ties, but anger flared over the cash no-show. As Chen spoke to a gaggle of Chinese journalists while dessert was being served, one guest started shouting.

"Don't lie to the people!" Ernest St Pierre told AFP. "We came here for US$300 but now he's changed his tune." Chen announced through a translator that he was heading to the New York City Rescue Mission - which helped organise the lunch - and invited guests to join him there.

"This individual who's filthy rich put it in the paper," St Pierre, a former US Navy medic, told reporters.

Retired Vietnam War veteran Harry Brooks told reporters he would be "highly upset" if he didn't get the cash, despite enjoying the food "very much."

"I could use $300," he said. "Clothing for one thing," he said gesturing at his shabby attire when asked how he would spend it.

Not all guests were unhappy. Many said they enjoyed the food and called the experience "beautiful," saying they were touched that someone had flown all the way from China wanting to help.

But as they were herded outside to queue up to get the bus back, complaints multiplied.

Quin Shabazz, 34, said he felt the homeless had been exploited and branded the lunch - covered by a mob of TV cameras and reporters - "a big publicity stunt."

Al Johnson, 42, said he had been banking on the money to get his life together and go home to his family in Texas. "This was going to change my life," he said. "Fraud. This is fraud with a capital F," he added. "I feel used for a photo op."

Craig Mayes, executive director of the New York City Rescue Mission, was left to deny there had been any injustice.

"I'm really sorry. It was misrepresented in the paper," he said.

Michelle Tolson, director of public relations at the Mission, said on Tuesday that no cash would be handed out to individuals and that it had taken 1.5 months of negotiations to convince Chen to instead donate US$90,000 to the group.

The money would be ploughed straight into the Mission's US$5 million yearly expenses to feed and house people, she said.

The shelter provides people with a hot meal, a clean shower and a safe bed, clothing and assistance in addressing their problems.

Chen, known for publicity stunts and reportedly worth an estimated US$825 million, serenaded his guests with a rendition of the 1985 charity single We Are the World.

The smiling, bespectacled businessman said he wanted to give back after wealthy Americans had contributed to relief efforts after disasters in China.

"Hopefully, I will really lead the way to encourage other people who are in a position to help to follow through," he said.

Coalition for the Homeless says around 60,000 homeless men, women and children bed down in New York's shelters and thousands more who sleep rough on the streets or elsewhere.

The number of homeless New Yorkers has risen by 75 per cent since 2002 and in recent years has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s, according to the advocacy group.

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