Terrex vehicles could be home by Feb 11: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE — The nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex armoured vehicles detained in Hong Kong could return home by Feb 11, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Wednesday (Jan 25).

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a military planning exercise, Dr Ng said it would take commercial carrier APL about a week to bring the vehicles back to Singapore. They will be shipped back to the Republic directly “without any intermediate stops”. 

“I was told that APL will make special efforts to expedite the process despite this being a Lunar New Year weekend ... We are hoping that our Terrexes can leave Hong Kong soon and arrive back in Singapore to celebrate ... Chap Goh Mei,” said Dr Ng, in reference to the 15th day of Chinese New Year. Chap Goh Mei falls on Feb 11 this year.

APL was supposed to ship the vehicles to Singapore in November last year from Taiwan, following a military training exercise. But customs officials in Hong Kong seized the shipment on November 23 while it was in transit in the city’s port.

After about two months, during which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote to Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying requesting for the vehicles immediate return, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that Hong Kong authorities would release the vehicles.

Revealing that it had completed its investigations into a suspected breach of its shipping rules, Hong Kong customs also said it might pursue criminal prosecution. 

No dates have been announced for the vehicles release or voyage back to Singapore.

Asked for details about the issue of criminal prosecution raised by Hong Kong on Wednesday, Dr Ng said: “We have encouraged APL to comply with all the rules required by the Hong Kong port. That continues to be our decision.

“Even after the decision to release the Terrexes to the APL, there are procedures to follow in accordance with Hong Kong port rules. We leave it to the Hong Kong customs to conclude and comment on the results. It must follow due process and according to laws of Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong authorities have not elaborated on the possible target for prosecution. Senior lawyer Haridass Ajaib, who specialises in maritime law, told TODAY that the first to be investigated would be the ship’s captain and the carrier. “As to whether or not they would be prosecuted would depend on the outcome of the investigation and the facts that have been determined during the investigation,” he said.

On Wednesday, Dr Ng said the Ministry of Defence and the SAF welcomed the decision by the Hong Kong authorities, adding: “(We) are in close communications with the carrier and assisting them to ensure that there is a smooth repatriation of the Terrexes.”

On whether the incident had an impact on Singapore military training in Taiwan, Dr Ng stressed that the issue was “about the customs disputes”. WITH ADDITONAL REPORTING BY TAN WEIZHEN