Singaporeans, who are still concerned about the state of China-Singapore relations and our terrexes, can heave a sigh of relief.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) released the following statement:

On 24 January 2017, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Leung Chun-ying replied to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s earlier letter to inform him that the Hong Kong authorities have completed their investigations, and will be releasing the SAF Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles and other equipment to the Singapore Government through the carrier. This is a positive outcome. Prime Minister Lee has replied to Chief Executive Leung to thank him for Hong Kong’s cooperation in resolving this matter.

In a doorstop interview today, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had provided a more detailed update about the likely transport plan of the terrexes:

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"MINDEF and SAF are in close communication with the carrier APL and assisting them to ensure that there is a smooth repatriation of the SAF terrexes.

When the terrexes are released by Hong Kong customs, APL has told us that they will make special efforts to expedite the process, despite this being a Chinese New Year weekend, as you can imagine. Many countries, when Chinese New Year approaches, many companies will be on leave but APL said they will make special efforts. And they also informed us that they will transport the terrexes directly from Hong Kong back to Singapore without any intermediate stops. Even then, that seal of passage from Hong Kong to Singapore directly will take about a week.

Hopefully, the terrexes can leave Hong Kong soon and arrive back in Singapore to celebrate reunion for Chap Goh Mei. And that's our hope. We will keep Singaporeans updated about the progress and the journey of the SAF terrexes.

Chap Goh Mei, in Hokkien dialect, refers to the 15th night of Chinese New Year or Feb 11 this year.

Resolution after two months

The nine Terrexes were seized by Hong Kong's authorities on November 23, 2016.

Three meetings between the SAF-contracted shipping line APL and the Hong Kong Customs did not yield any new information.

The Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) — the highest-level forum between Singapore and China — will meet next month in Chongqing, after the annual meeting was postponed last year.

Chen Xiaodong, the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Chen Xiaodong, said in a speech on Monday that Singapore is a good friend and partner of China.

He added that while bilateral ties may not always be "plain sailing", China "is ready to work with the Singaporean side to build upon our experience, inject more positive energy to our relations and bring more benefits to our peoples".

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