City University President Freddy Boey Leaves His Job for Personal Reasons

Apr 24, 2026, 10:25
A2

City University President Freddy Boey Leaves His Job for Personal Reasons

Introduction

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) said on Friday that its president, Freddy Boey, left his job. He left for personal reasons. The university will look for a new president.

Main Body

Freddy Boey is from Singapore. He is an expert in materials for medicine. He became president in May 2023. His contract was for five years. It was to end in 2028. He left two years early. The university council thanked him for his work. The council chose a new leader for now. The new leader is Lee Chun-sing. He was the provost and deputy president. He is a professor of chemistry and materials science. He will be the acting president. The council will help him. The Education Bureau said it respects Boey''s decision. It thanked him. The government says the university can choose its own president.

Conclusion

Freddy Boey left his job. The university named a new leader for now. It will look for a new president around the world. The university and government support this change.

Vocabulary Learning

help
to do something for someone to make it easier幫助
Example:The council will help the new leader.
job
work that you do to earn money工作
Example:He left his job.
leave
to go away from a place or a person離開
Example:He will leave his job for personal reasons.
new
not old; different from before新的
Example:The university will look for a new president.
work
something you do, especially your job工作
Example:The council thanked him for his work.

Sentence Learning

Freddy Boey left his job.
This sentence uses the simple past tense to describe a completed action. 'Left' is the past form of 'leave'.本句使用一般过去时描述一个已完成的动作。'Left' 是 'leave' 的过去式。
He became president in May 2023.
This sentence uses the simple past tense. 'Became' is the past form of 'become'. The time phrase 'in May 2023' tells when it happened.本句使用一般过去时。'Became' 是 'become' 的过去式。时间短语 'in May 2023' 说明事件发生的時間。
His contract was for five years.
This sentence uses the past tense of 'be' (was) to describe a state. 'For five years' shows the duration.本句使用 'be' 的过去式 'was' 描述一种状态。'For five years' 表示持續的時間長度。
The university council thanked him for his work.
This sentence uses the simple past tense. 'Thanked' is the past form of 'thank'. The phrase 'for his work' gives the reason.本句使用一般过去时。'Thanked' 是 'thank' 的过去式。短语 'for his work' 說明感謝的原因。
The new leader is Lee Chun-sing.
This sentence uses the present tense of 'be' (is) to give a fact. 'Lee Chun-sing' is the name of the new leader.本句使用 'be' 的现在式 'is' 陈述一个事实。'Lee Chun-sing' 是新領導人的名字。
B2

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

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, became the university''s fifth president in May 2023. His five-year contract was due to end in 2028, meaning he left about two years early. The university council expressed appreciation for Boey''s contributions during his time in office. 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. His responsibilities include 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 set out in the CityU Ordinance. 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 led to the appointment of an interim president and the start of a global recruitment process. The university and government have expressed support for the transition, highlighting institutional autonomy and stability.

Vocabulary Learning

acting
Temporarily performing the duties of a particular role or position代理的，臨時的
Example:The executive committee appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president, effective immediately.
affirm
To state something firmly or publicly; to confirm確認，肯定
Example:The council affirmed its commitment to providing full support to maintain stability throughout the transition period.
continuity
The state of being continuous or unbroken; consistency over time連續性，持續性
Example:To ensure continuity, the executive committee of the council appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president.
initiate
To begin or start something開始，發起
Example:The university stated that a global search for a successor would be initiated shortly.
institutional autonomy
The right of an institution to govern itself independently, without external interference院校自主權
Example:The spokesperson noted that presidential recruitment falls under the institutional autonomy of CityU, as set out in the CityU Ordinance.

Sentence Learning

Lee, who holds chair professorships in chemistry and materials science and engineering, has served as provost and deputy president since 2023.
Relative clause 'who holds...' gives extra information about Lee, making the sentence more informative without starting a new sentence.關係子句「who holds...」提供關於Lee的額外資訊，使句子更豐富而無需另起新句。
The university stated that a global search for a successor would be initiated shortly.
Passive voice 'would be initiated' focuses on the action (the search) rather than who does it, common in formal reporting.被動語態「would be initiated」強調動作（搜尋）而非執行者，常見於正式報導。
The spokesperson further noted that presidential recruitment falls under the institutional autonomy of CityU, as set out in the CityU Ordinance.
Passive participial phrase 'as set out' provides background information concisely, showing the legal basis.被動分詞片語「as set out」簡潔提供背景資訊，顯示法律依據。
His five-year contract was due to end in 2028, meaning he left about two years early.
Present participle 'meaning' links the cause (contract end date) to the result (early departure), showing logical consequence.現在分詞「meaning」連接原因（合約結束日期）與結果（提早離開），顯示邏輯因果。
To ensure continuity, the executive committee of the council appointed provost and deputy president Lee Chun-sing as acting president, effective immediately.
Infinitive of purpose 'To ensure continuity' clearly states the reason for the action, organizing the sentence logically.目的不定式「To ensure continuity」清楚說明行動原因，使句子邏輯清晰。
C2

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

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」。