The company that owns Hong Kong’s popular floating restaurant Jumbo, known for its luxurious dining rooms and lights, said it sank in the South China Sea on Sunday.
Jumbo Floating Restaurant – or Jumbo Kingdom – was pulled away last week after being closed during covid-19 pandemic.
According to the establishments of the Aberdeen Restaurant, the ship was exposed to adverse weather conditions and sank near the Paracel Islands, adding that none of the crew was hurt.
With a length of 260 meters and three decks, the ship has docked for 46 years in Hong Kong waters, having welcomed “many dignitaries and international celebrities”, including Queen Elizabeth II of England and American actor Tom Cruise.
The sinking comes after Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said it can no longer afford maintenance costs.
However, Hong Kong Prime Minister Carrie Lam rejected requests for temporary financial relief.
“We have clearly indicated that the government has no plans to invest money in operating the restaurant (…),” said Carrie Lam.
Even before the pandemic, the restaurant, which served Cantonese food, was piling on debt, but a ban on tourists to curb the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus hit Jumbo and other attractions in Hong Kong.
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