Leung Chun-ying has been appointed City University's Council Chairman for three years from October 22 while Bernard Chan will succeed him as Lingnan University's Council Chairman for two years.

Welcoming the appointments Secretary for Education Michael Suen said Leung and Chan are prominent community leaders who are fully dedicated to serving the community, including the tertiary education sector.

"Their strong commitment to tertiary education is demonstrated by their dedicated service at the Council of the Lingnan University to which they have rendered useful insights and advice."

Mr Suen said the new chairmen will lead the universities through future challenges, like preparations for the four-year undergraduate programmes under the new '334' academic structure.