Seventy-eight Hong Kong companies participated in the employee volunteer week this year. Organised by non-profit group Community Business, the event benefited at least 4,924 people, an increase of nearly 30 per cent on last year. More than 1,800 employees volunteered 6,387 hours in more than 98 activities serving charities. 

Mainland is cleaning up its act

People in the running for posts as senior officials in Beijing must now share a wealth of personal information, as part of changes introduced to increase transparency and fight corruption, China Daily reports. Anyone objecting to any of the candidates can dial one of three telephone numbers to express their disapproval. Candidates will be excluded if they are found to have concealed information or tried to mislead the authorities. 

Beijing motorists suffer longest commutes

Many Beijing residents spend up to an hour commuting to work every day, a statistic reflecting a need to improve the capital's infrastructure, Global Times reports. Looking at 50 mainland cities, a recent Chinese Academy of Sciences report found that Beijing topped the list with 52 minutes, followed by 48 minutes in Guangzhou and 47 minutes in Shanghai. The average traffic jam in Beijing lasts for five hours a day.