Hong Kong Icon Sinks Hong Kong’s famous jumbo floating restaurant has drowned in the South China Sea after being turned away from the city. This floating restaurant was once a tourist attraction. Tourists used to come here in large numbers.
Hong Kong, AFP. Hong Kong’s icon Jumbo Floating Restaurant sank in the South China Sea. This floating restaurant, once a famous Hong Kong tourist attraction, sank after moving away from the city. Some online commentators described the restaurant’s sinking as a metaphor for Hong Kong’s future.
Jumbo floating restaurant used to attract tourists
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant was once a tourist attraction in the famous but financially struggling Hong Kong. It sank in the South China Sea after moving away from the city. Its parent company gave this information on Monday.
Palata Floating Restaurant near Paracel Islands
Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises announced in a statement that the floating restaurant overturned and sank off the Paracel Islands on Sunday after ‘experiencing adverse conditions’.
The depth of the water at the spot is more than 1,000 metres, making rescue operations extremely difficult.
The company said it was deeply saddened by the incident, but all crew members were safe.
Marine engineers were hired to inspect the floating restaurants and put up billboards on the ship prior to the voyage, the company said, and all relevant approvals were obtained.
Restaurant closed in March 2020
After nearly a decade of financial crisis, the restaurant was closed in March 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. Operator Melco International Development stated that the business had not been profitable since 2013 and the cumulative loss had exceeded 100 million Hong Kong dollars ($12.7 million).
Lakhs of rupees were being spent in the maintenance of the restaurant
Melco said it was still costing millions in maintenance fees each year and that nearly a dozen businesses and organizations had declined invitations to take it at no charge.
Melco announced last month that the jumbo floating restaurant would leave Hong Kong and wait for a new operator at an undisclosed location before its license expires in June.
The restaurant closed shortly before noon last Tuesday from ashore the southern Hong Kong Island typhoon, where it had sat for nearly half a century.
The restaurant was opened in 1976
The restaurant was opened in 1976 by casino tycoon Stanley Ho. In its glory days it embodied the height of luxury. It reportedly cost over 30 million Hong Kong dollars to build.
Chinese imperial palace-like design
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant was designed like a Chinese imperial palace.
This restaurant was once considered a must-see destination.
The restaurant has attracted everything from Queen Elizabeth II of England to actor Tom Cruise.
worked in many films
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant also starred in several films, including Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, about a deadly global pandemic.