There was some speculation on the matter in British dominions also, with one New Zealand paper reporting that: Union Flag: approved designs". www.college-of-arms.gov.uk. College of Arms. 2023 . Retrieved 23 February 2023. However, the meaning behind the use of the flags by pro-democracy protestors, including the Union Flag, remains disputed with protestors citing a variety of reasons for flying it. [119] Some pro-democracy protestors that flew foreign flags, including the Union Flag, did so in an effort to attract international media attention to the protests, while others did so in an effort to irritate the central government of China. [119] [120] The Union Flag, in addition to other foreign flags, were also used by some protestors to illustrate their desire for Hong Kong to be an "international city"; whereas others used the flag simply as a generic symbol of freedom. [119] [121] [122]

Some specifically flew the Union Flag and the colonial flag of Hong Kong, nostalgic of the "values" of the previous colonial government, namely "personal freedoms, rule of law, [and] clean governance". [116] [118] Other pro-democracy protestors choose to use the Union Flag and the colonial flag of Hong Kong in an effort to call upon the British government to declare that China had failed to uphold the Sino-British Joint Declaration. [119] Several Hongkongers that hold British National (Overseas) passports who used the flag during the protests were doing so as a call to the British government to grant British National (Overseas) the right to abode in the United Kingdom. [119] Although a small number of Hongkongers seek direct British intervention into the matter, the majority of those that used the Union Flag or the colonial flag of Hong Kong during the protests do not hold such beliefs. [118] Kelly, Ralph (8 August 2017). "A flag for the Empire" (PDF). The Flag Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2023 . Retrieved 13 August 2023. In 1964, Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson introduced plans to replace the Union Flag with a new national flag, spurring the Great Canadian flag debate. [105] A new national flag, the Maple Leaf, was approved by the parliament of Canada on 17 December 1964. [105] However, on the following day, the Canadian parliament passed another resolution that designated the Union Flag as the Royal Union Flag and authorised its official use as the symbol of the country's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and its allegiance to the Crown. [107] The move was a concession given to those who preferred to adopt the Canadian Red Ensign as a formal national flag. On 15 February 1965, the maple leaf flag formally replaced the Union Flag as the flag of Canada following an official proclamation by Elizabeth II, [105] with the Royal Union Flag becoming an official ceremonial flag. [107] The Royal Union Flag next to the flag of Canada during a Remembrance Day parade in Stirling, Ontario, 2009 a b c d e f g Sum, Lok-kei (22 August 2019). "Are Hong Kong protesters pro-American or British when they wave the US and UK flags? The answer is complicated". South China Morning Post. SCMP Publishers . Retrieved 26 June 2020. Fowler, Jean, ed. (1990), Reed's Nautical Almanac 1990, New Malden, Surrey: Thomas Reed Publications Limited, pp.16:2–16:3, ISBN 0-947637-36-2The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000". Opsi.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009 . Retrieved 14 June 2010. a b c Perrin, William Gordon (1922). British flags, their early history, and their development at sea: with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device. The University Press. p.59. History of the Loyalist Flag". www.uelac.org. United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019 . Retrieved 18 March 2020.

On 30 November, St Andrew's Day, the Union Flag can be flown in Scotland only where a building has more than one flagpole—on this day the Saltire will not be lowered to make way for the Union Flag if there is only one flagpole. [94] This difference arose after Members of the Scottish Parliament complained that Scotland was the only country in the world that could not fly its national flag on its national day. However, on 23 April, St George's Day, it is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom that is flown over UK government offices in England. [95] Usage and disposal [ edit ] The parliamentary resolution requires the Royal Union Flag to be flown alongside the national flag of Canada (if there are at least two flag poles available) on federal properties on Commonwealth Day, Victoria Day (the monarch's official birthday in Canada), 11 December (the anniversary of the enactment of the Statute of Westminster, 1931), and when otherwise instructed to do so by the National Defence Headquarters. [107] [106] The Royal Union Flag may also be formally flown alongside the flag of Canada at federal locations in Canada for ceremonies, anniversaries, and other events relating to the Canadian Armed Forces or other forces in the Commonwealth. [107] [106] James Purnell, Culture Secretary from June 2007 to January 2008 in Brown's administration, subsequently concurred with the abolition of the restrictions – pending consultation on longer term arrangements. Lord Howe's action, or the Glorious First of June, painted in 1795, shows a Union flying from HMS Queen Charlotte on the " Glorious First of June" 1794. The actual flag, preserved in the National Maritime Museum, is a cruder approximation of the proper specifications; this was common in 18th and early 19th century flags. [61] [62] The Position of Ulster". Ashburton Guardian. Vol.XLII, no.9413. National Library of New Zealand. 16 December 1921. p.5 . Retrieved 9 January 2012.Grieve, Martin; Southworth, Christopher; Prothero, David. "United Kingdom: Regimental Colours". Flags of the World . Retrieved 9 July 2009. In Scotland, the Scottish Government has decreed that the Flag of Scotland ("the Saltire") will fly on all its buildings every day from 8am until sunset, but there is no specific policy on flying the Union Flag and as such it is sometimes flown alongside the Saltire and sometimes omitted. An exception is made for "national days". On these days, the Saltire shall be lowered and replaced with the Union Flag. These are the same as the flag days noted above with the exception of: