Hong Kong to return Singapore army vehicles

Hong Kong has said it will return nine Singaporean 
military vehicles that it seized in November.

The Terrex infantry carriers were impounded on their
 way back from Taiwan, where Singapore had been using them in training exercises.

The incident sparked a diplomatic dispute between 
Singapore and China, which has sovereignty over Hong
 Kong.

Hong Kong officials said there had been a suspected
 breach oflaw and that there could be criminal prosecution.

Singapore had demanded the release of the vehicles,
 which were being transported by a commercial carrier.

 It said they were property of a sovereign state so had diplomatic immunity. 'A positive outcome' The incident put
 a strain on an already tense relationship between Singapore and China, which controls Hong Kong's foreign affairs.

Beijing has been angered by what it sees as Singapore's support for countries which oppose its claims to large areas of contested territory in the South China Sea.

Singapore also has a close relationship with Taiwan and, locking land space itself, has trained its troops there for decades.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway Chinese province
 which will one day be reunited with the mainland, by force
 if necessary.

Hong Kong officials said on Tuesday they had now
 completed their investigations and the vehicles would 
be sent back, but that legal action could still be taken.

Singapore's foreign ministry said it was a "positive outcome" and thanked Hong Kong for its "co-operation in resolving
 this matter".

In a Facebook post referencing the upcoming Lunar New 
Year celebrations this weekend, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said he was "looking forward to this happy reunion with all Singaporean in the Year of the Rooster".