Terrex seizure: Singapore Govt has made known 'formal position' to Hong Kong counterpart

SINGAPORE — The Government has conveyed its "formal position" to its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) counterpart on the detention of the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) armoured vehicles, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Friday (Dec 23).

Without elaborating, Mindef said in a press statement that the communication was done "over the past three weeks" and the Government is still waiting for the return of the nine Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles, which were seized by the Hong Kong customs exactly a month ago. 

"Over the past three weeks, the Singapore Government has communicated its formal position to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on the detention of SAF Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles and associated equipment by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department. We await a full resolution of this matter and return of our property by the Hong Kong SAR Government," Mindef said. 

About a week after the seizure of the vehicles, which were being transported from Taiwan to Singapore, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told reporters that the Government and Mindef could begin proceedings to recover the vehicles after a meeting last month between Hong Kong customs officials and staff from shipping firm APL. Dr Ng had said: “After the reasons and legal basis are made clear for the detention of SAF Terrexes by the Hong Kong authorities, Mindef and the Singapore government will then commence proceedings to recover our assets. Mindef aims to comply with all regulations and laws as well as exercise our full rights of recovery available to us.”

At least three meetings between Hong Kong customs and APL have taken place since, with the last update on the discussions announced by Mindef after the third meeting on Dec 6. At that time, APL had still not received formal reasons for the seizure of the vehicles.