However, the maid agency in Katong had nothing to do with humanitarian aid.

The crosses were put up for a commercial purpose: to advertise the training of maids in the care of babies and the elderly.

The Singapore Red Cross wants to stop such misuse of the emblem, probably the most recognisable sign of humanitarian work.

Its spokesman told The Straits Times that since July last year, it has sent five letters to companies urging them to drop the use of the emblem. Another four will be going out soon.

The Health Ministry is also doing its part, ordering that the sign be removed from several ambulances and clinics as it had not given the go-ahead for them to bear the emblem.

The ministry spokesman said that most times, operators are not aware that the emblem cannot be used without state authorisation.

The reason for its restricted use: It is intended to signal the neutrality of aid workers and protect them from attacks when they carry out relief work.

International Committee of the Red Cross' regional legal adviser Alexandre Faite described it as a powerful symbol of neutrality that inspires trust in the community.

Its misuse - especially at the hands of users who are not impartial - can 'compromise' the integrity of the symbol.

International law spells out clearly who can use the Red Cross sign and when.

In peacetime, a country's armed forces medical service and the local Red Cross Society can do so.

In times of armed conflict and disaster, civilian ambulances and hospitals can use the symbol when permission is granted by the government.

Under the Geneva Conventions Act, abusing symbols of aid can lead to a maximum punishment of a $10,000 fine and six months' jail.

But some - like private ambulance operator Comfort Ambulance - feel that those in the medical field should be allowed to use the Red Cross symbol.

The operator of five ambulances, who wanted to be known only as Mr Yang, removed Red Cross stickers from the vehicles after being told to do so a few years ago.

'But we'll be roped in in the event of a disaster, so I don't see why we can't use it,' he said.

However, the stand of the international movement is clear.

Mr Faite said: 'If you want something to have a meaning, you can't allow everyone to use it.'

joolin@sph.com.sg