Knowledge and innovation have long been keys to Hong Kong's success. The Sun Hung Kai Properties Nobel Laureates Distinguished Lecture series was established in 2004 with a generous donation from the title sponsor in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong to build on that foundation and to contribute towards Hong Kong's competitiveness. The aim of the series is to promote the discovery and sharing of knowledge in the six Nobel Prize categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economic Sciences.

Hong Kong is home to some of the finest institutes of higher learning in Asia, which hold many scholarly events each year. What sets these lectures apart is the scope of the series and long-term commitment by the organizers to present the series on an annual basis. Nobel Laureates whose work has had an important impact on society, culture or the human condition are invited to Hong Kong to share their insight, wisdom and vision. The series includes topics of general interest to a broad audience, with an emphasis on interaction with the speakers.

Twenty-five Nobel Laureates have given lectures under the auspices of this programme since the start of the series in November 2004.

The lecture series offers a forum for the exchange of ideas and provides first-hand accounts of the speakers' scholarly accomplishments and their analyses of trends in the world, the region and Hong Kong. The organizers hope that the lectures help further develop Hong Kong's global perspective in academia and business, and enhance the territory's status as an international city in every way.