The inauguration of AsianSTSS with a special company registration number of 100,000 in 2005 was celebrated with virtual fireworks. The Executive Committee of AsianSTSS would like to embrace the closure of AsianSTSS with effect from 3^rd June 2024 with heartfelt gratitude to our longtime members and collaborators.

We would like to thank those members who have attended the EGM on 3^rd June 2024 and unanimously supported the special resolution that:

1. The Asian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (AsianSTSS) shall cease operation with immediate effect and apply for deregistration pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Ordinance of Hong Kong;
2. The executive committee shall settle any and all the debts and liabilities of AsianSTSS, and donate the remaining cash to the Hong Kong Red Cross for use in their trauma psychological services;
3. The executive committee of AsianSTSS shall execute all such documents and do all things necessary to effect the foregoing.

We have shared a memorable journey with the mission to advance knowledge about the nature and consequences of trauma, to provide a platform for the sharing of knowledge on trauma and to promote high standards and ethical practice in the trauma field in Hong Kong.

We are proud to be the first organization to bring in a number of important trainings conducted by world renowned experts in Hong Kong. These trainings that have casted a long-term and significant impact on our practices included: Treatment for Complex Trauma (by Prof. Alexander McFarland), Cognitive Behavioural Approaches to the Understanding and Treatment of PTSD (by Prof. Mark Creamer), Cognitive Processing Therapy (by Prof. Patricia Resick); Traumas concerning Sex and Gender (by Prof. Elsa Almås, and Dr. Esben Esther Pirelli Benenstad); Psychological First Aid & Psychological Recovery (by Prof. Robert Pynoos, Dr. Melissa Brymer & Dr. Patricia Watson); Children affected by Early Brain Injury/Trauma: Clinical Practice based on Neuropsychological Evidence (by Prof. Vicki Anderson); Evidence-based Practice for Effective Management of PTSD (by Prof. Jonathan Bisson); Narrative Exposure Therapy for Trauma-related Disorders (by Dr. Ruud Jongedijk & Dr. Eiting), and the list here is not exhaustive. Many of the above experts have actually come to Hong Kong more than once to share their expertise and we have become friends and collaborators to promote high standard practice in the field of trauma psychology.

With the support of prominent scholars and clinicians in Hong Kong, AsianSTSS has organized forums and workshops on topics most relevant locally. AsianSTSS has published the first issue of Asian Traumatic Stress Points – a newsletter which promotes sharing of knowledge and good practice since 2006. Many well-written papers and documentation of dedicated work can be found in the newsletters that are still worth revisiting (the electronic version of the newsletter can be found in our website).

The book: Healing Trauma – a Professional Guide sponsored by AsianSTSS and printed by the Hong Kong University Press in 2011 was a historical production that has marked the trails of development and evidence-based practice led by a team of outstanding leaders from different professional disciplines in Hong Kong.

Our collaboration with International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies has contributed to the Chinese translation of abstracts from the Journal of Traumatic Stress since 2010, years before the availability of easy access to high quality translation software.

We believe the journey we have shared together over the past two decades, no matter at which point each one of us has come aboard and participated, would have given us fond memories of intellectual exchange, worldly collaboration and cheerful friendships.

Respectfully yours,

Executive Committee of AsianSTSS (2024)