Hong Kong's iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant has not sunk, despite earlier reports, according to its owner Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises (ARE). The vessel, which was being towed to an undisclosed destination, encountered adverse weather near the Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands.
ARE initially suggested the restaurant had sunk, citing water depth of over 1,000 metres making salvage extremely difficult. However, on Thursday the company clarified that the vessel and its tugboat remain in waters near the islands, calling reports of sinking 'inaccurate'. A spokesperson later told CNN that ARE had always used the term 'capsize' and never claimed the vessel had sunk.
The 80-metre-long restaurant, designed like a Chinese imperial palace, closed in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic after decades of operation. It hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise, and featured in films by Jackie Chan and Steven Soderbergh.
Hong Kong's Marine Department said it learned of the incident from media reports and has requested a report from ARE. Officials noted that failure to report a sinking within 24 hours could breach regulations, with a potential fine of HK$10,000 (£1,040).
ARE had earlier complained that the business had not been profitable since 2013, with cumulative losses exceeding HK$100 million. Maintenance costs were said to be millions annually, and a 30-metre kitchen barge sank earlier this month due to lack of maintenance.
