Easter rites in Catholic churches that could spread deadly atypical pneumonia are being cancelled this year in a rare directive from the Hong Kong diocese.
There will be no palm leaves and branches for parishioners to wave to mark Palm Sunday on April 13 - the first day of the Holy Week - according to new guidelines.
The set of regulations released on Wednesday to all 53 parishes recommends that the washing of feet during evening Mass on Holy Thursday, April 17, which symbolises Jesus washing the disciples' feet, be cancelled.
Priests have also been advised from Sunday to wear masks when giving communion and stop placing wafers in the mouths of the faithful to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). Church-goers also are asked not to hold hands during the singing of the Lord's Prayer.
Priests will have to wear surgical masks whilst taking confessions and penitents will be asked to wear at minimum an ordinary face mask. Confessional booths will be abandoned in favour of face-to-face confessions held in rooms with fresh air and adequate ventilation.
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong has about 230,000 worshippers, a large proportion of whom are Filipino.