Diplomats at half the consulates in Hong Kong have used their consular immunity to escape prosecution for traffic offences, a media report said Sunday.
Envoys from 29 out of the city's 59 consulates have invoked their diplomatic position to dodge fines totalling more that 30,000 Hong Kong dollars (3,850 dollars) over the last five years, the Sunday Morning Post reported.
The top five worst offenders over the period were Hungary, Russia, Israel, Bangladesh and Greece, dpa reported.
Most of the fines were issued for parking offences, although an official from the Vietnamese consulate escaped prosecution after he "failed to comply with traffic signs."
A spokesman for the Hong Kong government's protocol division said about 1,800 consular staff and family members in Hong Kong were entitled to consular privileges and immunity.