Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III in New York, Asia Society is a leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. Across the fields of arts, business, culture, education and policy, Asia Society provides insight, generates ideas and promotes collaboration to address present challenges and create a shared future.

As an affiliate of the Asia Society global network of 14 centers, Asia Society Hong Kong Center was established in 1990 by a group of Hong Kong community leaders, led by the late Sir Q.W. Lee, honorary chairman of Hang Seng Bank.