City University of Hong Kong President Freddy Boey Resigns for Personal Reasons; Interim Appointment Made

Apr 24, 2026, 10:25

Introduction

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) announced on Friday that its president, Freddy Boey, had resigned with immediate effect, citing personal reasons. The university stated that a global search for a successor would be initiated shortly.

Main Body

Boey, a Singaporean national and expert in biomaterials engineering, assumed the presidency in May 2023 as the institution''s fifth president. His five-year contract was scheduled to conclude in 2028, meaning his departure occurred approximately two years ahead of schedule. The university council expressed appreciation for Boey''s contributions during his tenure. To ensure continuity, the executive committee of the council appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president, effective immediately. Lee, who holds chair professorships in chemistry and materials science and engineering, has served as provost and deputy president since 2023, with responsibilities encompassing academic affairs and strategic development. The council affirmed its commitment to providing full support to maintain stability throughout the transition period. In response to media inquiries, a spokesperson for the Education Bureau stated that the government respected Boey''s personal decision and thanked him for his service. The spokesperson further noted that presidential recruitment falls under the institutional autonomy of CityU, as governed by the CityU Ordinance, and that the government has full confidence in the council''s ability to select a suitable candidate based on the university''s long-term interests.

Conclusion

The resignation of Freddy Boey, effective immediately, has prompted the appointment of an interim president and the commencement of a global recruitment process. The university and government have expressed support for the transition, emphasizing institutional autonomy and stability.

Vocabulary Learning

cited
Mentioned as a reason or example.引述/提及
Example:City University of Hong Kong (CityU) announced on Friday that its president, Freddy Boey, had resigned with immediate effect, citing personal reasons.
encompassing
Including or covering a wide range of things.涵蓋
Example:Lee has served as provost and deputy president since 2023, with responsibilities encompassing academic affairs and strategic development.
institutional autonomy
The independence of an institution to govern itself without external interference.院校自主權
Example:The spokesperson further noted that presidential recruitment falls under the institutional autonomy of CityU.
provost
A senior administrative officer in a university, often second to the president.教務長/常務副校長
Example:The executive committee of the council appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president.
tenure
The period during which someone holds a particular office or position.任期
Example:The university council expressed appreciation for Boey's contributions during his tenure.

Sentence Learning

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) announced on Friday that its president, Freddy Boey, had resigned with immediate effect, citing personal reasons.
Main clause: 'City University of Hong Kong (CityU) announced on Friday'. Subordinate noun clause (object): 'that its president, Freddy Boey, had resigned with immediate effect'. Appositive phrase 'Freddy Boey' within noun clause. Present participle phrase 'citing personal reasons' as adverbial modifier.主句為「香港城市大學於星期五宣布」。從屬名詞子句（賓語）為「其校長Freddy Boey已即時辭職」。名詞子句內含同位語「Freddy Boey」。現在分詞短語「citing personal reasons」作為狀語修飾語。
His five-year contract was scheduled to conclude in 2028, meaning his departure occurred approximately two years ahead of schedule.
Main clause: 'His five-year contract was scheduled to conclude in 2028'. Present participle clause 'meaning his departure occurred approximately two years ahead of schedule' as supplementary clause providing result/explanation. Embedded finite clause within participle clause.主句為「他的五年合約原定於2028年結束」。現在分詞子句「meaning his departure occurred approximately two years ahead of schedule」作為補充子句，提供結果或解釋。分詞子句內嵌限定子句。
Lee, who holds chair professorships in chemistry and materials science and engineering, has served as provost and deputy president since 2023, with responsibilities encompassing academic affairs and strategic development.
Main clause: 'Lee has served as provost and deputy president since 2023'. Non-restrictive relative clause 'who holds chair professorships...' modifying 'Lee'. Prepositional phrase 'with responsibilities encompassing...' where 'encompassing' is a present participle phrase postmodifying 'responsibilities'.主句為「Lee自2023年起擔任教務長及副校長」。非限制性關係子句「who holds chair professorships...」修飾「Lee」。介詞短語「with responsibilities encompassing...」中，「encompassing」為現在分詞短語後置修飾「responsibilities」。
To ensure continuity, the executive committee of the council appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president, effective immediately.
Fronted infinitive phrase 'To ensure continuity' expressing purpose. Main clause: 'the executive committee of the council appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president'. Reduced adjective phrase 'effective immediately' as adverbial indicating time of effect.句首不定式短語「To ensure continuity」表示目的。主句為「校董會執行委員會任命教務長兼副校長李振聲為署理校長」。簡化形容詞短語「effective immediately」作為狀語表示生效時間。
The spokesperson further noted that presidential recruitment falls under the institutional autonomy of CityU, as governed by the CityU Ordinance, and that the government has full confidence in the council's ability to select a suitable candidate based on the university's long-term interests.
Main clause: 'The spokesperson further noted'. Two parallel noun clauses as objects. First noun clause contains reduced relative clause 'as governed by the CityU Ordinance' (passive participial phrase) modifying 'institutional autonomy'. Second noun clause includes infinitive phrase 'to select a suitable candidate' modifying 'ability' and past participial phrase 'based on...' modifying 'candidate'.主句為「發言人進一步指出」。兩個並列名詞子句作賓語。第一個名詞子句包含簡化關係子句「as governed by the CityU Ordinance」（被動分詞短語）修飾「institutional autonomy」。第二個名詞子句包含不定式短語「to select a suitable candidate」修飾「ability」，以及過去分詞短語「based on...」修飾「candidate」。