Two Saudi sisters say they were apprehended by officials from the ultra-conservative kingdom at Hong Kong airport while en-route to seek asylum in Melbourne, and have been trapped in the Chinese territory for more than six months.

The siblings, aged 20 and 18, say they have renounced their Islam faith and fear they will face the death penalty if they are forced to return Saudi Arabia.

Two young Saudi sisters in Hong Kong say they were apprehended by kingdom officials. One of the women takes a photo in a hotel room in Hong Kong. Credit:CNN

Representatives for the pair, who have adopted the aliases Reem and Rawan, say they suffered violent abuse for years and fled to Hong Kong in September from a family holiday in Sri Lanka.

Their final destination was meant to be Melbourne.