Lai Ka-ying: Hong Kong's first astronaut begins maiden spaceflight

Lai Ka-ying, the first female Chinese civilian to reach outer space and the first astronaut from Hong Kong, said she never dared to dream of traveling into space.

"As an ordinary native of Hong Kong, I never imagined I could join the astronaut team and be selected for this spaceflight. This precious opportunity was far beyond my wildest expectations back then. At this moment, my heart is filled with gratitude and pride," she said at a news conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Saturday, a day before her maiden space journey.