Hong Kong's customs chief today denied suggestions that Beijing was involved in the investigation into nine armored personnel carriers belonging to Singapore that were seized in the Chinese-controlled territory.
Commissioner Roy Tang said his department was acting only under Hong Kong law when it impounded the nine SAF Terrex infantry carriers and other equipment.
He spoke a day after the Hong Kong government said the vehicles would be returned to Singapore following an investigation into a suspected violation of rules governing the shipment of "strategic commodities."
The vehicles were being shipped back home via Hong Kong after military training exercises in Taiwan when they were seized in November.
Analysts have speculated that the seizure signaled Beijing's displeasure over Singapore's position on China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. Singapore is not a claimant but has irritated China by advocating that countries making claims on the strategic waterway abide by international rules.
Experts say the dispute could also indicate China's unhappiness with Singapore's longstanding practice of holding military training with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a part of China.
"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 said when asked whether Beijing had any role in the seizure. "We are a Hong Kong law enforcement agency," he added, making the points repeatedly during a news briefing.
Hong Kong is a specially-administered Chinese region that has considerable autonomy and retains a separate legal system from the mainland under the "one country, two systems" principle.
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