<P> The national flag of Fiji was adopted on 10 October 1970 . The state arms have been slightly modified but the flag has remained the same as during Fiji's colonial period . It is a defaced sky - blue "Blue Ensign" (the actual Blue Ensign version of the flag is the Government ensign). It has remained unchanged since Fiji was declared a republic in 1987, despite calls from some politicians for changes . </P> <P> In 2013, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced plans of replacing the flag with a new design that would not include the Union Jack . Following a three - month - long public vote, the new flag was expected to be announced on or before 7 September 2016, but, despite his personal views, Bainimarama abandoned plans to change the flag for the foreseeable future in August 2016 . </P> <P> The flag's bright blue background symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, which plays an important part in the lives of the islanders, both in terms of the fishing industry, and the huge tourist trade . The Union Jack reflects the country's links with the United Kingdom . The shield is derived from the country's coat of arms, which was granted by Royal Warrant in 1908 . It is a white shield with a red cross and a red chief (upper third of a shield). The images depicted on the shield represent agricultural activities on the islands, and the historical associations with the United Kingdom . At the top of the shield, a British lion holds a cocoa pod between its paws . The upper left is sugar cane, upper right is a coconut palm, the lower left a dove of peace, and the lower right a bunch of bananas . </P> <P> The flag is very similar to the colonial ensign used prior to independence, the main differences being the latter used a darker shade of blue and displayed the entire Fijian coat of arms as opposed to just the shield . While some reformists have called for the removal of the Union Flag, seeing it a British colonial emblem, others support its retention for the sake of historical continuity . The flags of five other independent countries (see Flags of Australia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue, and Tuvalu articles) retain the Union Flag in their national flags . But of these, only Fiji is a republic . The Union flag also remains on the state flag of Hawaii, a state of the USA since 1959 . </P>

Why is the union jack on the fiji flag