Eccentric philanthropist Chen Guangbiao on a mission in New York (and he sings too)

Controversial Chinese philanthropist Chen Guangbiao arrives in New York tomorrow bursting with ideas for how he can help America's poor and the country's ailing newspaper industry. But first he has some requirements.

Before 1,000 underprivileged people can join him for lunch at The Boathouse restaurant in the city's Central Park and receive red packets stuffed with US$300, they must sing for their supper - the patriotic ditty Learn from the Good Model Citizen Lei Feng, named after the supposedly selfless People's Liberation Army soldier hailed by Mao Zedong.

To prep his guests, Chen, 46, had copies of the song's English lyrics distributed at places that distribute food to the poor.

Overseeing proceedings will be 200 Chinese volunteers recruited from Columbia and New York universities dressed in green military uniforms.

The entertainment also will involve Chen and two Americans singing the song written by Michael Jackson for the charity USA for Africa in 1985 , We are the World in English.

"I have received 5,000 applicants and I estimate by Wednesday the applications will outnumber 10,000," Chen said last week before flying to the US.