Fr Mark Cauchi (The Sunday Times, March 23) enquired as to the official colours of the Order, "noticing different flags flying from the buildings of the Order of St John".

In order to achieve international uniformity, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta had, as from last year, issued guidelines for the correct use of the emblems and flags of the Order of Malta.

This is currently being adopted by all its Grand Priories, Sub-Priories, associations, diplomatic missions and organisations around the globe, all currently in the process of ensuring that each is in conformity with these directives.

This will also minimise any possible confusion arising from the use of different emblems and serve as a possible deterrent to many self-styled, unrelated orders of St John.

The Sovereign Order has always strived to tackle the scourge of many of these orders which are in no way connected to it and which use names and emblems ambiguously similar to those of the Order, causing untold damage to the centuries-old reputation of the SMOM.

The following are the guidelines for flags as stipulated by the Grand Magistry of the Order in Rome and which its Representations in Malta, as in all other countries, are in the process of adopting:

The Red Flag with the Eight-Pointed White Cross is the flag of the Order's works. This is the flag which is to be used by the Order's Grand Priories, Sub-Priories, national associations and its diplomatic missions around the world. It flies over hospitals, medical centres and out-patient departments, as well as wherever the Order of Malta's ambulance corps, foundations and specialised units operate.

The Red Rectangular Flag with the White Latin Cross is the State flag of the Order of Malta. Called the flag of St John, it has been used since ancient times.