Hong Kong (Fides Service) - The Rites of Holy Week in Hong Kong, which begin with Palm Sunday, 13 April, will be modified and simplified because of the deadly atypical pneumonia SARS. With a rare directive the Hong Kong diocese has asked for special precautions to be taken in all 53 parishes. On Sunday 13 April there will be no palm leaves or branches for parishioners to wave for the Liturgy which is a commemoration of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The set of regulations released on 2 April recommends the cancellation of the rite of the "washing of feet", during the evening Mass on Holy Thursday, (April 17) which symbolises Jesus washing the feet of his disciples to stress his commandment of charity. There will be no baptisms by immersion during the Easter Vigil. At church entrances the faithful will not find holy water, liturgy booklets, or palm leaves, since they could easily becomes agents for transmitting the SARS virus. Parishioners have been asked to bring their personal missals and Sunday collections will be taken after holy communion. Days earlier the diocese had given a first series of instructions: priests are asked to wear face-masks when distributing communion and not to place the sacred host on the hand and not on the tongue communicants; churchgoers are asked not to touch hands to exchange a sign of peace. Also during confession priests and faithful, are asked to wear facemasks, and confessions must be heart in a large room with plenty of fresh air. (Fides Service 4/4/2003 EM lines 18 Words: 266)