The symposium on "Neutral Clouds near HII Regions" was prompted by an obvious need to bring together workers specifically interested in the dynamical and photochemical effects in regions showing clear evidence of on-going star formation. This is currently an are a of considerable research activity with much new observational material over the wavelength range from X-ray to radio. Furthermore, the field isbeginning to mature. No longer is molecular spectroscopy concerned only with the search for new lines and with preliminary surveys. No longer are evolving HII regions modelled with the naive assumption of constant density. Similarly, ideas of successive star formation, "champagne" and "blister" models of HII regions, and refinements