Kowloon has Chinatown statues

SAUGUS – The fracas from the Chinatown “foo dog” statues could be headed north to the Kowloon Restaurant where two of the stately giants have guarded the entrance since they were removed from Chinatown during renovations.Stanley Wong, who runs the Route 1 north restaurant along with his brothers, said he is mystified by the brouhaha caused by the statues.At one time, two large majestic foo dogs graced the Chinatown Gate on Beech Street. The city of Boston is now alleging they were stolen by a contractor when his company handled a renovation project there some time in 2005 and are threatening to sue unless the dogs are returned.According to published reports, Boston Mayor Menino argued that four original foo dogs paid for by a grant from the Taiwanese government in 1982 and are the property of the Boston taxpayers.But two of the historic statues tower outside the A-frame entrance to Kowloon and Wong said there was nothing nefarious about their arrival.”A couple of years ago somebody from Chinatown contacted me,” he said. “They said they were discarding the statues and replacing them with new ones.”Wong said the contact asked if he would like the statues for the restaurant and Wong readily accepted, paying nothing for them and unaware that any trouble would follow. According to a Massachusetts Turnpike Authority spokesman, the dogs cost $4,800 each.Wong said when the statues arrived they were in poor condition – they were covered in pigeon waste, severely discolored and cracked.”They were a mess,” he said. “It was a lot of work to clean them up.”Despite having to restore the dogs, Wong said he felt it was important to rescue them.”It’s an Asian thing,” he said. “They mean good luck.”Wong said the large dogs sit proudly, one with its foot on a ball and another with its foot on a baby.”The baby represents the parents,” he said. “Its good luck, good fortune.”While Menino is calling for the foo dogs to be returned, Wong was cagey on whether he would or would not comply.”I don’t know what the contract said. They said (the old statues) were to be replaced with new ones,” he said. “It sounded like they were going to discard them.”Wong indicated that since the statues have been there for more than a year, perhaps it is wise to let sleeping dogs lie.”I just don’t see why this is a big deal now,” he said. “I’m amazed this has come to light like this.”