【明報專訊】PRESIDENT Xi Jinping's attendance at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) has highlighted its importance attached by the central government of China. One has to comprehend the meaning of the bridge's opening from the angle of macro-history. The bridge's opening is a monument to the massive historical changes over the 40 years of China's reform and opening up. It is also a symbol of the mainland's march from a "major bridge-power" towards a "strong bridge-power" as well as an important milestone in the future development of Hong Kong and the mainland. As much as the mainland has to grow from a "major power" to a "strong power", Hong Kong also has to break through its bottleneck and plan for the future. The opening of the bridge can give impetus to the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the Greater Bay Area). It can also become the engine powering the upgrading and transformation of the mainland and Hong Kong. The integration of the Greater Bay Area will bring about significant changes to the circumstances surrounding the region that includes Hong Kong. The city's role as a "connector" is already outdated. It should take part actively in planning out its future rather than "passively wait for good luck".