Hong Kong Scouts to leave S.Korea as Typhoon Khanun cuts short World Scout Jamboree

On Monday, it was announced that The World Scout Jamboree in South Korea would end early due to a typhoon warning.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement received news from the South Korean government that, due to the expected effects of the incoming Typhoon Khanun, early cessation of the event and the departure of the participating scouts are planned.

The Scout Association of Hong Kong (SAHK) stated that they have already activated their emergency arrangements and are planning to leave camp on or before Wednesday, following the arrangement of the organizer, transporting the members to a safe place, and returning to Hong Kong as soon as possible.

The association is currently discussing with the organization the arrangement of leaving camp, as well as being in constant contact with the Chinese embassy in South Korea and the SAR government.

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau on Monday urged SAHK to implement relevant measures to ensure the safety of all participating members, particularly taking the health and safety of young members as the prime consideration.

The Bureau also assisted SAHK, including liaising with the Immigration Department and the relevant airline so that the association could arrange return trips for its members expeditiously. 

The South Korean weather watchdog expected Khunan to directly affect Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province in the southeast on Wednesday.

About 43,000 people joined the jamboree, which began on August 1 (Tue) in North Jeolla Province, but an extreme heatwave caused hundreds of scouts to fall ill from the effects of the harsh heat, forcing Seoul to deploy military doctors, offer air-conditioned buses, and promise an all-out effort to salvage the event.

The extreme weather conditions led to the American and British scout groups withdrawing during the weekend, with Jamboree organizers continuing to run the event despite rising concerns over the heat.