SINGAPORE – The Singapore Armed Forces has begun a thorough inspection of the nine armoured Terrex vehicles and other related military equipment that were detained in Hong Kong for two months.
The Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 31) that Chief of Army Major-General Melvyn Ong observed the serviceability checks and maintenance of the vehicles and equipment in the morning.
Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Melvyn Ong (top L) observing the post-training administration for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) and other equipment. (Photo: MINDEF)
“The detailed post-training administration will require a few days to complete,” the statement added without elaboration. 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.
The vehicles and other equipment arrived in Singapore on Monday at 2.20pm, after being detained by Hong Kong Customs on Nov 23 last year. The nine Terrex vehicles were being shipped from Taiwan by commercial shipping firm APL after a military training exercise when Hong Kong Customs seized the shipment.
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”, and that and the investigation might lead to criminal prosecution.
However, 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”.
