SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERSChinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao has been giving free meals to homeless New Yorkers. At a Wednesday meal, he made attendees sing the song ‘Good Model Citizen Lei Feng.’

In an only-in-New-York moment, an eccentric Chinese millionaire fed some 250 homeless people a fancy lunch at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park on Wednesday — but was thanked with Bronx cheers.

Chen Guangbiao, a recycling tycoon, provided the fine food, and he personally performed magic tricks and sang “We are the World” — and all it got him were shouts from the belly-full crowd.

The homeless people he had helped blasted him as a “fraud” and a “thief” and worse because the $300 each had expected to receive was instead given in lump-sum to a shelter where they had been staying — New York City Rescue Mission.

“The meal was lousy, the cash didn’t come,” said Clarence Taylor, 52, as the ungrateful throng railed in frustration. “Prey on somebody else. Why are you preying on the homeless?”

Another unhappy homeless man, Ernest St. Pierre, vowed he wouldn’t leave until Chen coughed up the cash.

“These people have hope,” he said. “They’re hoping Chen delivers the money.”

Before Chen’s philanthropy led to controversy, there was spectacle — and plenty of it.

Chen, who is worth about $750 million, treated the 250 shelter residents to a three-course meal: sesame-seed-encrusted tuna and Asian vegetable slaw as appetizers, beef filet with horseradish-roasted potatoes for an entre, and seasonal berries with crème fraîche as dessert.

Chen had taken out full-page newspaper ads in which he said he was aimed at “harmonizing relations between China and the United States,” and “restoring the image of China’s wealthy.”

But before the ravenous urban refugees could tuck into their meal, Chen had them sing a song Chinese communists might find catchy. It was called “Good Model Citizen Lei Feng.” It was named after a People’s Liberation Army soldier, who was hailed for his selfless service by the late Chairman Mao.

As the homeless ate, Chen performed magic tricks.

Four of the attendees were then brought on stage, and each was given three crisp $100 bills while the cameras flashed.

“The most important thing is to bring joy and happiness to other people,” Chen said through a translator.

Then Chen, backed by 200 Chinese volunteers dressed-up in green military-style uniforms, began belting out the anti-hunger anthem “We Are the World,” singing in his high-pitched voice in English.

ANDRIA PATINO/CORBISThe Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, where 250 homeless New Yorkers had a fancy lunch and four of them received $300 from Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao. He also donated money to a shelter.

But Chen’s quirky Kumbaya moment started to unravel when a rumor spread through the crowd that nobody else was getting any cash.

Chen quickly assured them — via translator again — that that was not the case. But the homeless didn’t want to hear it, and began chanting, “Where’s the money? Where’s the money?”

A few minutes later, Chen was gone — and so was his money.

Craig Mayes, who runs the New York City Rescue Mission, which is based on Lafayette St. in Little Italy, defended the outcome.

“I do believe there was something lost in translation,” he said. “We had a contract with Mr. Chen in terms of the gift that was going to benefit the mission, which will and does benefit the people we serve.”

One of the four homeless diners who got money, Edward McCue, 50, said he was moved by Chen’s generosity, and said he would give his $300 to the shelter for putting him up for four nights.

“It gives you hope,” he said.