Hong Kong scouts who joined a jamboree in South Korea say they're disappointed the event has been cut short, with parents welcoming their return but criticising the organisers for not having a backup plan.

The World Scout Jamboree (WSJ), already marred by an extreme heatwave that caused hundreds of participants to fall ill, was brought to an end earlier than expected due to Typhoon Khanun.

Tens of thousands of participants, including more than 460 members of the Scout Association in Hong Kong, were evacuated from their campsite in Buan, a county on South Korea's southwestern coast.

On Wednesday, some of the SAR delegation returned to Hong Kong, greeted by signs that read "welcome home, scouts" and "well done, you survived WSJ '23".

Queenie Ng, an assistant chief commissioner of the association, said several members from Hong Kong had fallen ill, including some with mild heatstroke.

A scout said the group was sad they had to come back early.

"It's a pity, because the event is held once every four years," another scout said.

One participant spoke of poor hygiene conditions at the jamboree, but said he would do it all over again.

"There was rubbish everywhere, it was very dirty, and we couldn't shower...I'm very happy to be back in Hong Kong," he said. "I would go back, because we could meet people from all around the world."

A parent at the airport said evacuation arrangements had been chaotic.

"I feel like [the organisers] should have a backup plan for such a large-scale event, instead of having children feel unwell and come back early. They should, at the very least, not have to sleep in such a poor environment for so many nights," she said.

Another mother agreed the organisers could have done better, adding that other parents would like their children to have stayed longer in South Korea.

The government, for its part, welcomed the return of the SAR delegation.