TODAY: PM Lee writes to HK chief exec requesting return of Terrexes, as Defence Minister urges compliance of international law
SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying requesting for the immediate return of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) armoured vehicles being detained by Hong Kong customs, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament on Monday (Jan 9).
The Hong Kong authorities have responded that the investigation is ongoing and will take some time to complete, and that the Hong Kong Government will handle the matter in accordance with their laws, Dr Ng said.
Welcoming the response, Dr Ng added: “Adherence to the rule of law has been the fundamental basis for peace and stability for the last half century in Asia. It has enabled countries both large and small to build trust and confidence in one another, cooperate and prosper together… We therefore look forward to the Hong Kong Government returning our Terrexes in accordance with international law.”
Under the principle of sovereign immunity, State properties – including military assets - are immune from any measures of constraint abroad, and cannot legally be detained or confiscated by other countries. “This principle is well-established under international law, and we are advised by lawyers that it is also the law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR),” Dr Ng said.
The Singapore Government has informed its Hong Kong counterpart on a number of occasions over the last two months – both through its lawyers and its Hong Kong Consul-General Foo Teow Lee – that the Terrexes and other equipment being detained belong to it. “Accordingly we have requested the Hong Kong authorities to return our property immediately,” said Dr Ng, adding that Mr Lee’s letter to Mr Leung reiterates the same message.
Dr Ng said: “Singapore and Hong Kong have long enjoyed good and friendly relations. We hope the matter will be resolved satisfactorily and our friendly relations will endure.”
Dr Ng, who had previously said that Singapore has been working at all levels of government “quietly and out of the limelight” to get the Terrexes back, was replying to several questions filed by Members of Parliament on the matter. Six MPs – including Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) MP Vikram Nair, Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad - had tabled questions on the issue, touching on areas such as Singapore’s relations with China, whether any military secrets could be compromised, and what steps the Government is taking to get the vehicles back. The MPs also want to know whether the Ministry of Defence is reviewing its existing contractual arrangements for the transportation of military equipment between Singapore and foreign ports.
In response, Dr Ng reiterated that the Terrexes and other equipment being detained were being used for training and do not contain sensitive equipment. Each year, the SAF transports more than 700 military equipment using commercial carriers to all parts of the world in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States. The SAF’s contracts with the shipping companies and agents require them to comply with established protocols and all relevant international and local port rules, Dr Ng said. “Neither the SAF, Singapore, nor indeed most other countries operate on the assumption that our cargo will be arbitrarily seized when transiting reputable foreign ports. The SAF has followed these procedures for shipping military equipment for over 30 years without any significant incidents.”
Dr Ng noted that it would cost “three to four times more, and add several hundred million dollars” to the Ministry of Defence’s (Mindef) annual budget, to ship all military equipment directly from point-to-point. Currently, the navy does not have transport ships with the scale and capability to ship all the equipment. Its Endurance Class Landing Ships Tanks – the largest multi-purpose and transport ships – are due for replacement, and Mindef will consider if it needs to replace them with ships of larger capacity, Dr Ng said.
There are rare exceptions when the SAF does not use commercial shipping companies, or will apply special considerations if it does, based on security risk assessments. For example, for advanced weapon and sensor systems or submarines that were brought back by the SAF to Singapore. The special measures include chartering whole ships, mandating direct shipments, deploying protection forces or even converting the commercial ship into a government ship using the State Marine Ensign, Dr Ng said., Dr Ng said.
The Terrexes – which were being transported from Taiwan to Singapore when they were seized on Nov 23 - did not fall into this special category, he added. Arising from the seizure, the SAF has reviewed its shipping procedures comprehensively, Dr Ng said. “Where we think the risk of detention of SAF assets has gone up, whether in Asia or any other part of the world, we will impose extra precautions even if this means incurring higher freight charges,” he said. Alternatively, the SAF may consider leasing space to house equipment at its overseas training sites – which is already being practised for certain equipment - to avoid shipping them altogether, and procure additional units to meet operational requirements, where necessary.
Article Source: TODAY
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Dr Ng, who had previously said that Singapore has been working at all levels of government “quietly and out of the limelight” to get the Terrexes back, was replying to several questions filed by Members of Parliament on the matter. Six MPs – including Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) MP Vikram Nair, Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad - had tabled questions on the issue, touching on areas such as Singapore’s relations with China, whether any military secrets could be compromised, and what steps the Government is taking to get the vehicles back. The MPs also want to know whether the Ministry of Defence is reviewing its existing contractual arrangements for the transportation of military equipment between Singapore and foreign ports.
In response, Dr Ng reiterated that the Terrexes and other equipment being detained were being used for training and do not contain sensitive equipment. Each year, the SAF transports more than 700 military equipment using commercial carriers to all parts of the world in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States. The SAF’s contracts with the shipping companies and agents require them to comply with established protocols and all relevant international and local port rules, Dr Ng said. “Neither the SAF, Singapore, nor indeed most other countries operate on the assumption that our cargo will be arbitrarily seized when transiting reputable foreign ports. The SAF has followed these procedures for shipping military equipment for over 30 years without any significant incidents.”
Dr Ng noted that it would cost “three to four times more, and add several hundred million dollars” to the Ministry of Defence’s (Mindef) annual budget, to ship all military equipment directly from point-to-point. Currently, the navy does not have transport ships with the scale and capability to ship all the equipment. Its Endurance Class Landing Ships Tanks – the largest multi-purpose and transport ships – are due for replacement, and Mindef will consider if it needs to replace them with ships of larger capacity, Dr Ng said.
There are rare exceptions when the SAF does not use commercial shipping companies, or will apply special considerations if it does, based on security risk assessments. For example, for advanced weapon and sensor systems or submarines that were brought back by the SAF to Singapore. The special measures include chartering whole ships, mandating direct shipments, deploying protection forces or even converting the commercial ship into a government ship using the State Marine Ensign, Dr Ng said., Dr Ng said.
The Terrexes – which were being transported from Taiwan to Singapore when they were seized on Nov 23 - did not fall into this special category, he added. Arising from the seizure, the SAF has reviewed its shipping procedures comprehensively, Dr Ng said. “Where we think the risk of detention of SAF assets has gone up, whether in Asia or any other part of the world, we will impose extra precautions even if this means incurring higher freight charges,” he said. Alternatively, the SAF may consider leasing space to house equipment at its overseas training sites – which is already being practised for certain equipment - to avoid shipping them altogether, and procure additional units to meet operational requirements, where necessary.
Article Source: TODAY
Read more here:
- Gov.SG - Minister of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen’s reply to Parliamentary questions on SAF Terrex
- Gov.SG - Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen replies MP Low Thia Khiang's questions on the SAF Terrex.
- Gov.SG - Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian’s reply to Parliamentary questions on SAF Terrex
- TODAY: Full Text of the Minister of Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen's full statement in Parliament (9 Jan 207) on the Terrex ICV detention
- TODAY: PM Lee writes to HK chief exec requesting return of Terrexes, as Defence Minister urges compliance of international law (9 Jan 2017)
- Channel NewsAsia - PM Lee asked Hong Kong leader for immediate return of Terrexes: Ng Eng Hen (9 Jan 2017)
- The Straits Times: Parliament: Detention of Terrexes against international law, S'pore looks forward to their return, says Ng Eng Hen (9 Jan 2017)
- Cyberpioneer: 3 things you need to know about Defence Minister’s updates on the Terrex detainment (9 Jan 2017)
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