Container ship captain charged for transporting Singapore armoured troop carriers without a licence
An investigation by Hong Kong customs authorities found the Singapore government was not responsible for the incident
In his first court appearance, mainland ship master Pan Xuejun, 39, was charged with one count of importing strategic commodities without the necessary licence.
Prosecutors alleged that Pan’s vessel carried into Hong Kong nine vehicles designed or modified for military use under a sea waybill, but did not have an import licence issued by the director general of trade and industry.
The nine Terrex armoured troop carriers, which were bound for Singapore from the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung after a military training exercise, was the biggest impounding of strategic commodities in Hong Kong in two decades.
The captain was not required to enter a plea before acting principal magistrate So Wai-tak and was released on bail of HK$50,000 with his case adjourned to May 19, when the case will be transferred to the District Court.
Assistant director of public prosecutions Bianca Cheng said prosecutors were planning to combine Pan’s case with that of another defendant.
