Sandra Haughton is the founder of Shopping 4 U, a company specialising in guided shopping expeditions to Hong Kong's lesser-known wholesale outlets and factories in the New Territories.
'My favourite secret shopping spot is An Extra Garden [Flat C & D, 6/F Shun Wai Industrial Building, 15 Yuk Yat Street, To Kwa Wan. Tel: 2365 4214], a veritable oasis within industrial To Kwa Wan. It sells all types of silk flowers: roses, freesias, big daisies, tiger lilies. They're very realistic-looking, and when I take people there, they always mistakenly go up to smell them.
'Overjoy Porcelain [Block A & B, 1/F, 10-18 Chun Pin Street, Kwai Chung. Tel: 2487 0615] sells a brilliant, really practical selection of dinnerware. There are over 300 designs, and you can mix and match the different styles, or bring along items and have them copied. You can also bring in your own design - a family crest, say - and they will make up a set for you. Prices are reasonable and everything is hand-painted, but you can also buy plain white designs. I bought my own dinner service there. I asked them to adapt two of their existing patterns in one design - a navy and gold dragon and a decorative scroll detail.
'The Christmas designs are popular with my clients, as they can buy specific pieces like a cake rack or plates, rather than an entire service. And it does a really unique porcelain lazy susan that you can have painted to match your service. They're ideal presents. There are two sizes, for $500 and $800, and it comes in a really nice wooden box that you can have on display.
'A great place for Chinese antique gifts is L & E Furniture [Lot 1512, DD91, Castle Peak Road, Kwu Tung Section, Tai Tau Leng Village, Sheung Shui. Tel: 2670 0763] - an Aladdin's cave of Chinese furniture and Oriental arts and antiques. It's family-run and I like the staff as they're very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I bought two antique lacquered wood and rattan boxes there, which I use as side-tables - everyone always comments upon them. It also sells wonderful wooden boxes and baskets that make great magazine holders.
'Sum Ngai Brass Factory [195B Kam Sheung Road, Kam Tin. Tel: 2477 7202] is an ideal place for good quality lamp bases which can be adapted for use as either candleholders or electric lamps. There's a huge selection, from quite plain and classical to ornate, and they can change the fittings while you wait.