HONG KONG • Indian travellers visiting Hong Kong have been "humiliated" by invasive body searches after being unfairly targeted, as immigration officials crack down on abuses in the asylum-seeker process, the Indian Consulate in the city says.

"Large numbers of genuine Indian travellers have been facing serious difficulties upon arrival in Hong Kong, which include detention and interrogation for long hours, including women and children, and invasive body searches," the Indian Consulate's media officer, Mr Karun Bansal, told the South China Morning Post.

"People have been left deeply humiliated and traumatised as the result of such experiences," he said.

Agencies in India have reportedly been selling fake 'asylum visas', which were being used by black-market labour rackets operating in Hong Kong.

Last month, two residents were arrested for allegedly helping seven Indians to overstay and file torture claims, the Post reported.

According to the Indian Consulate, more than 3,000 Indian travellers were detained and denied entry, "which is totally disproportionate to the number of torture claim files".