Beggars’ banquet a shambles when cash taken off table
A STUNT by a Chinese tycoon to provide a free lunch to 300 homeless people in one of New York’s finest restaurants degenerated into a shambles yesterday as word spread that the participants would not be receiving an expected cash handout.
The first simmerings of discontent emerged in the Central Park Boathouse as sesame-encrusted tuna appetisers were being served.
By the time the main course of rump steak was on the tables, the mood had turned thoroughly sour, as news of no cash giveaway passed around the room.
By the time bow-tied waiters cleared berries and creme fraiche from the tables, there was a nearmutiny, and burly private security men were forced to prevent some angry diners from storming the podium.
Chen Guangbiao, a controversial recycling magnate, selfpublicist and philanthropist, had earlier sung a version of We Are The World, the Michael Jackson hit written to raise charity funds for Africa.
But the mood of goodwill and gratitude quickly dissipated as diners learnt that they would not be receiving the US$300 in cash that Chen had originally promised everyone who attended.
Officials at the New York City Rescue Mission, which the billionaire had approached to help organise the event, told him they would take part only if the money was donated to their organisation to provide meals for the homeless.
‘‘We work with the homeless every day, many of them unfortunately have drink and drugs problems, and it just isn’t a good idea to give that sort of cash out to people,’’ said Michelle Tolson, the mission’s spokesman.
‘‘Mr Chen agreed that he would donate the $90,000 to the mission and that is the basis on which we are here today.’’
However, that message had not reached many of the recipients of the free meal.
‘‘We have been duped to come along here under false pretences and now we are just part of a propaganda trick for the rich,’’ said Harry Brooks, a Vietnam War veteran who tried to reach the stage to voice his complaints in person.
‘‘We don’t need their steak, we need the money so that we can pay for food and clear debts. Now we’re never going to see it. This is a disgrace.’’
The mood had been very different earlier as Chen told the gathering that he hoped to encourage other wealthy Chinese to follow his example and donate their wealth to good causes around the world.
‘‘That is why we are calling our visit to America the tour of love and gratitude,’’ he declared through a translator, to cheers and whoops from some of New York’s poorest and most desperate residents.
Adding to the surrealness of the spectacle, Chen had issued Red Army-style uniforms to hundreds of locally recruited volunteers from the Chinese community.
Outside the restaurant, Chinese exile critics of the communist regime chanted slogans protesting at Chen’s presence, denouncing him as an ally of the Beijing authorities.