Here’s the latest I can share based on current public crossword references.
Core answer
- The common crossword answer for the clue “Special Administrative Region of China” is MACAO (also spelled MACAU in many puzzles).[1][5]
Context and common variants
- MACAO/MACAU both appear in crosswords as the late Portuguese-era enclave on the China coast that rejoined China in 1999; some puzzle sources use MACAO, others MACAU.[1]
- Some crosswords refer to related clues like “former British colony in China” which points to HONGKONG in certain grids, but that is a separate clue from the “Special Administrative Region of China” pattern.[2]
If you want, I can:
- Check for the latest puzzle occurrences this week to see which spelling is currently in use.
- Provide a quick list of common 4–6 letter variants that appear in popular crosswords to help you fill similar clues.