Victim of pandemic, Hong Kong floating restaurant towed away

By KATIE TAM and ZEN SOO
Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) — A floating restaurant that fed Cantonese cuisine to Queen Elizabeth II, Tom Cruise and millions of other diners has been towed from its Hong Kong harborfront location after falling victim to the pandemic. The parent company of Jumbo Floating Restaurant couldn’t find a new owner and lacked funds to maintain it after months of COVID-19 restrictions. The restaurant designed like a Chinese imperial palace on Aberdeen Harbour was famed for lavish banquets and Chinese delicacies. It closed in 2020 and its staff were laid off, but the owners said they were still spending a fortune on inspection and maintenance. Tugboats towed the restaurant away Tuesday to berth elsewhere while it awaits a new operator.