According to the restaurant owner, he encountered “adverse conditions” as he passed the Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands. The water came in and started to tilt. No one was injured, but efforts to save the boat failed. A statement from Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said he was “very saddened” by what had happened. Picture: The journey had begun calmly He added that since the water depth was over 1,000 meters, it was “extremely difficult to carry out rescue operations”. At nearly 80 meters (260 feet) long, the Jumbo has been a landmark in Hong Kong for more than four decades, serving Cantonese cuisine to more than a million visitors, including Queen and Tom Cruise. It closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and fired all its staff. Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said the restaurant became a financial burden for its shareholders, as millions of Hong Kong dollars were spent on its inspection and maintenance, even though it was not operational. It was towed last Tuesday. Picture: The restaurant, which was lit up every night, was one of the most photographed parts of the Hong Kong skyline. The company had planned to move it to a low cost location where maintenance could take place. He said that before his departure, the boat had been thoroughly inspected by naval engineers and all relevant approvals had been obtained. An investigation into what happened is ongoing.
