Terrex vehicles back in S’pore, to undergo thorough checks on Tuesday
The nine SAF armoured Terrex vehicles and other military equipment landed on the Republic’s shores, at 2.40pm on Jan 30, 2017. Photo: Ministry of Defence
SINGAPORE — The nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) armoured Terrex vehicles and other military equipment that landed home on Monday (Jan 30) will be transported to an SAF camp within a day, with a thorough inspection set to be conducted on Tuesday.
The vehicles and other equipment arrived in Singapore at 2.40pm, after being detained by Hong Kong Customs for about two months.
They will undergo “post-training administration”, which includes thorough serviceability checks and routine maintenance, according to a Ministry of Defence (Mindef) statement on Monday.
Although the camp the vehicles will be taken to was not specified, TODAY understands that all Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles are based at Kranji Camp II, which also houses the Motorised Infantry Training Institute, where infantry troops learn to engage in combat alongside these vehicles.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the Terrex vehicles will undergo detailed checks, which will take a few days.
Dr Ng also said he was “proud of how Singaporeans rallied together during this episode” and thanked citizens for their support.
He had previously described the seizure as a “low point” for Singapore from a “defence perspective” in a Facebook post on Dec 30, while parliamentarians also raised the issue when the House sat earlier this month.
He said then that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had written to Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to request the immediate return of the vehicles.
Dr Ng also told Parliament that the SAF had reviewed its shipping procedures comprehensively following the seizure.
The nine Terrex vehicles were being shipped from Taiwan after a military training exercise when Hong Kong Customs seized the shipment and held them at Kwai Chung Container Terminal.
No formal reasons were given for the move, despite three meetings held between APL and Hong Kong Customs in the initial weeks of the seizure.
Mindef said previously that Hong Kong Customs officials had queried “if the necessary permits and declarations by APL were in order”.
It also said APL was required to adhere to all regulations, including declaring the equipment it transports in the ship’s cargo manifest and obtaining the permits needed.
Last week, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that Mr Leung had responded to Mr Lee’s letter, saying that the Terrex vehicles and other equipment would be returned, as investigations had been completed.
Hong Kong Customs officials had suggested, however, that it might pursue criminal prosecution following investigations into a possible breach of its shipping rules.
In a statement last week, Hong Kong’s Commissioner of Customs and Excise Roy Tang said the vehicles had been seized on Nov 23 because “there was a suspected breach of the Hong Kong law”.
“The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to complying with international standards of strategic trade control, and Hong Kong implements a robust control system to achieve it,” he had said.
“Import, export and transshipment/transit of strategic commodities in breach of licensing requirement are criminal offences punishable under the Hong Kong law.”
He also said that Hong Kong Customs has completed its investigation of the suspected breach, and the investigation might lead to criminal prosecution.
Hong Kong Customs did not respond to TODAY’s queries on whether or when it will pursue criminal prosecution or take any action against APL.
When asked whether Hong Kong Customs have engaged with APL on this issue, a spokesperson for the shipping company said only that it was “working with the relevant authorities and various stakeholders to ship the vehicles and associated equipment ... back to Singapore”.
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this story, we stated that the Terrex vehicles arrived in Singapore at 2.20pm on Jan 30. This is incorrect. They arrived at 2.40pm. We apologise for the error.
