A Chinese millionaire's move to help homeless New Yorkers by treating them to a posh lunch was dismissed as a publicity stunt by some attendees and social analysts.

Recycling tycoon Chen Guangbiao, who is known for his grand, eccentric gestures, took out advertisements in The New York Times last week promising a fancy meal at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park and $300 cash for each of 1,000 homeless people in the city.

But the guest list for the charity banquet, which was held on Wednesday, shrank to 250 as police said the feast on the lawn had to be canceled because of safety concerns.