Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has announced that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was informed by APL that a third meeting between the shipping firm APL and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department to resolve the issue of the detention of the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) was conducted from 10am to 4pm on Monday (6 December).
MINDEF said that, unfortunately, it has not been provided formal reasons as yet for the detention of the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV).
It also said that the SAF has advised APL officials to continue to extend their full cooperation to the Hong Kong Customs in order to expedite the return of the SAF’s Terrex ICVs.
The second meeting was held on 1 December. APL and the Hong Kong Department had a seven hours meeting which started at 10.30am, while the first meeting between the two parties was held on 29 November from 2pm to 9pm.
The shipment of Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) and associated equipment were seized on 23 November by the Hong Kong customs belong to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) after an inspection carried out due to a tip-off. It was reported that the shipping company was unable to produce the necessary documents for the military equipment as required by regulations.
The vehicles were used for SAF’s overseas training in Taiwan.
