According to South African Airways the turbulence occurred over Malaysia and the crew of the flight immediately requested medical assistance for the passengers, which was arranged and ready on arrival of the aircraft in Hong Kong.
SA286 landed on Wednesday at approximately 12:30 p.m. Hong Kong time (0430 GMT).
Hong Kong's ATV showed pictures of several people on stretchers being taken to ambulances waiting at Hong Kong International Airport.
"Most of them hit their heads on the top of the roof," a male passenger told local TV in the arrivals area. "We were all basically sleeping when it happened."
"It was flying smoothly, and then I think we hit an air pocket because we just bounced about three times. We might have plummeted a little bit, I don't know, but the pilot then quickly took it into control and it was smooth flying all the way here," said a female passenger.
A total number of 165 passengers were on board. The seriously injured were taken to the Prince Margaret Hospital and the North Lantau Hospital in Hong Kong. REUTERS