The term 'special administrative region' is not often used in everyday conversation. The nine-syllable phrase is too much of a mouthful. Much easier to speak just of 'Hong Kong'.
But it is important to remember why the word 'special' is there. It reflects the intention that Hong Kong should be different to the rest of China. The city is, to use a dictionary definition, supposed to be 'distinct from others'.
This principle lies at the heart of the 'one country, two systems' concept. It has, since the handover, generally been observed. But the borders between the two systems have started to fray at the edges over the last year - and especially in the last few weeks.
If this is allowed to continue, the word 'special' will soon lose its meaning. Despite the best efforts of the Hong Kong people, the government seems intent on turning the city into a not-so-special administrative region. Three recent incidents illustrate the point. The first was the government's decision not to grant a visa to Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou. The popular Taiwanese politician was born in Hong Kong and has visited before. This time, he was due to participate in academic activities. No sensible reason has been given by the government to explain why he should not be allowed to visit.
We are therefore left to speculate that it might be because of criticisms he made of the mainland's proposed anti-secession law. Or perhaps it was regarded as inappropriate for a Taiwanese politician to attend an event at which a former United States official was also speaking.
These are the sort of considerations we would expect to apply if Mr Ma was intending to visit the mainland. But in 'special' Hong Kong, they should pose no problem. We are an open, international city. Visiting politicians are usually welcome (former Philippine president Joseph Estrada got a visa - and he is facing serious corruption charges). Immigration is also one of the areas which falls within our autonomy under the Basic Law. Government hints that it was carrying out Beijing's orders by refusing to grant a visa to Mr Ma therefore only blur the dividing lines even further.