Beijing, Nov 2 (IANS): An airport in China said that its security check can include touching a passenger's crotch, following an uproar on social media on privacy.

The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong province said Wednesday that its security check can include a pat down that can involve touching a passenger's crotch, reported People's Daily.

Sina Weibo user named "Ximen Bu'an" said the airport had adopted the "check the passenger's crotch" procedure at its security check. The Weibo posting has been reported some 11,000 times by late Thursday and has become a center of an online debate.

The airport said it is a regular part of the security check as sought by the country's civil aviation authorities.

An airport security official said though they don't intentionally touch the passenger's private parts, they will if need be, reported the Guangzhou Daily Thursday.

"We usually do it with a detector, but we may do it gently with our hands too," the official was quoted as saying.

The airport said they have to maintain vigil as they have caught people hiding drugs in their bras, underpants and even inside a tampon.

"We have not received any complaints regarding the checking of private parts including the breast or crotch," another employee with the security service center of the Baiyun airport told the Global Times.