The Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) was established in 1994 to provide coordination and support for public policy research and exchange of ideas pertinent to the Hong Kong context. Research fellows of the Centre have conducted research and published widely in many areas of public policy, including housing, labour, health, public finance, social security, industrial policy, and financial markets. Their expertise is widely recognised and provides a solid basis for both commissioned and self-initiated policy research.

The CPPS strives to serve Hong Kong by offering sound policy advice and analyses, by acting as a policy critic, and by educating the public about the implications of alternative policy options. In carrying out its mission, staff and fellows of the Centre are constantly engaged in policy-related research and activities aimed at disseminating the results of such research through scholarly and professional publications, seminars, talks and forums.

Research activities of the CPPS cover a broad area, and can be grouped under three clusters: (a) labour, human capital investment and industrial policy programme, (b) urban, health, and environmental policy programme, and (c) socio-economic justice and collective behaviour programme.  However, each year the Centre would select some priority research areas for more focused study. For example, currently the Centre is focusing its studies on competition policy, poverty, and spiritual education. The Centre organizes conferences and/or workshops each year, a well as a seminar series. It publishes working papers which are available on line.  Over the past few years the work of the Centre has been published by leading publishers in the form of edited volumes.