Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant sinks in South China Sea

(UPI) -- Jumbo Floating Restaurant, the world's largest buoyant dining destination, capsized in the South China Sea days after it was towed from the Hong Kong harbor where it sat for nearly half a century.

The 260-foot long, three-story high floating restaurant, which looked like a Chinese imperial palace, was moored in Hong Kong's Aberdeen harbor for 46 years before it was towed away last week.

The owners, who closed the restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 after accumulated losses of more than $13 million, said they are "very saddened by this accident."

The parent company of Jumbo King said the boat capsized Saturday after meeting "adverse conditions" near the Parcel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands, and sank more than 3,000 feet.

"The water depth at the scene is over 1,000 meters, making it extremely difficult to carry out salvage works," a statement from Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said. No crew members were injured.

Jumbo Floating Restaurant opened in 1976 and was well-known for its traditional Chinese decor and signature seafood dishes drawing tourists from around the world. It was featured in a number of movies including Jackie Chan's 1985 film, The Protector, and James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun.

Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/06/21/hong-kong-Jumbo-Floating-Restaurant-capsizes-sinks-sea/3651655846781/

Comprehension

What is considered as the world's largest buoyant dining destination?
What does it look like?
What happened to Jumbo Floating Restaurant after it was towed from the Hong Kong harbor?
How long did this Jumbo Floating Restaurant operate before it capsized?
How much loss did the owner accumulate during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020?
What made it difficult to carry out salvage works?

Discussion

What comes to mind when you hear the word "floating restaurant"?
Have you been to a floating restaurant before?
What do you think about capsizing this huge floating restaurant?
What is the oldest and most popular restaurant in your country?
What do you think about the implication of their decision?
Is there another way to save this floating restaurant?

Vocabulary

tow - (of a motor vehicle or boat) pull (another vehicle or boat) along with a rope, chain, or tow bar.
moored - make fast (a boat) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore or to an anchor.
accumulated - gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of.
salvage - rescue (a wrecked or disabled ship or its cargo) from a loss at sea.
adverse -having a negative or harmful effect on something
buoyant - able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas.