Mindef: Still no resolution with Hong Kong over SAF vehicle seizure

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said Friday (23 December) that the government is awaiting resolution with its Hong Kong counterpart over the return of nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex infantry carrier vehicles (ICVs) seized in the Chinese territory.

In a statement, Mindef said, “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.”

The announcement comes after three previous meetings between container shipping firm APL and Hong Kong Customs lasting a total of 19 hours that did not yield any “formal reasons” for the seizure of the Terrex ICVs.

Mindef said on 6 December that the third meeting lasting six hours was held on the same day. It was unclear whether there were more meetings scheduled between 7 December and Friday’s announcement.

APL had been contracted to transport the Terrex ICVs and associated equipment from Taiwan to Singapore. The vehicles were confiscated during a routine inspection at Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung Terminal, during a stopover.

On 28 November, Beijing lodged an official diplomatic complaint with Singapore over its long-standing military ties with Taiwan. Singapore has sent its troops to Taiwan for training since the 1970s.