Hong Kong customs denied the involvement of the Chinese government in the recent investigation on Singapore-owned personnel carriers yesterday, January 25, Business Standard reported.
According to Commissioner Roy Tang, Hong Kong's customs chief, Beijing had nothing to do with the investigation launched on nine armored personnel carriers which were seized in waters under Chinese control. The SAF infantry carriers were impounded by Hong Kong officials along with other seized equipment.
The outcomes of the SAF infantry carriers were free from any Chinese influence, said Tang, as his department only acted within Hong Kong law.
"Hong Kong customs is only authorized to enforce the Hong Kong law. We have no role to play in any enforcement or work other than laws applicable to Hong Kong, so there's no such implication," Tang told the media in a news briefing. "We are a Hong Kong law enforcement agency."
Commissioner Tang spoke to the media the day after Hong Kong's local government declared that the seized carriers will be returned to Singapore once the investigation has been completed. The vehicles are suspected to have violated rules on shipping items considered as "strange commodities."
Hong Kong has considerable autonomy and has a separate legal system despite it being a specially administered Chinese region.
Seized in November, the SAF infantry carriers were used in Taiwanese military training exercises and were to be shipped back to Singapore via Hong Kong.
According to experts, the capture of the carriers may have been a sign of China's displeasure on Singapore's position in the territorial claims in the South China Sea. Singapore has made no claims in the disputed waters, although it has advocated that claimants follow international rules.
Meanwhile, some analysts also speculate that the seizure also indicates another displeasure--this time with Singapore's long-time practice of holding joint military exercises with Taiwan.