'Use of crystal is traditional in chandeliers, but we are moving in the direction of more modern and novel designs,' said Kindy Lam, general manager at Hing Fat Electrical Lighting.

Hing Fat is showcasing a range of crystal lamps and natural stone fountains with lighting effects.

'We are the agent for Asfour Crystal,' Ms Lam said. 'Our idea is to use different kinds of crystal for different kinds of lighting.'

She said the trend this year was for crystal lamps decorated with coloured crystals. Hing Fat has been exhibiting at the fair for a number of years.

There will be a seminar titled Crystal in a New Light, given by Simon Cheng, director of business unit architecture, crystal components business Greater China of Swarovski Hong Kong Limited. He will talk about trends in luxury lighting and how lighting complements trendy interiors.

The company has provided chandeliers for top-end buildings, such as the Rockefeller Centre in New York. Mr Cheng will also talk about Swarovski's contemporary range, which combines luxury with function.

A spokesman from Neonlite Electronic & Lighting (HK) said lighting had become a way to add accents to a room.

'The designs people are going for are cleaner and sleeker, and even a bit sexier. They want updated styles that fit into traditional or contemporary spaces. Designs are compact and less obtrusive. Contemporary lighting is a trend that should blend with the decor,' the spokesman said.

This year's lighting fair sees four new zones marked out to help buyers find specialised products. The areas are Green Lighting Zone, for energy-saving products; Holiday Favour Zone, for festive lighting, including Christmas lights and lighting products as gifts; the Parts and Accessories Pavilion, for lighting parts, accessories, fixtures and fittings, and the World of Table Lamps. The four zones will complement the popular Outdoor Lighting Section, which has grown by 25 per cent this year to a total of 60 exhibitors. They will display street lamps, garden lighting and other outdoor illuminations.

Goodway Electrical Enterprise, which is participating in the lighting fair for the first time, will display energy-saving fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.

Research and design manager Thomas Lo said brightness and long life were as important as compact sizes and economic pricing. The scale of the lighting fair was the main attraction for him. 'The fair attracts manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and potential customers from Hong Kong, the mainland and other countries,' he said.

Dakki Tam, senior product marketing officer for Philips Light Factory Hong Kong, said the market for portable LED lighting had grown tremendously.

'LEDs are viewed as tomorrow's lighting technology,' she said. 'Compared with traditional lighting, LEDs have a clear advantage in terms of lifespan, energy efficiency, durability and environmental friendliness. They open up a range of new applications and represent a huge market potential for lighting suppliers.'

Philips will introduce the PrideLED K2 at the fair. The lamp uses the world's brightest single LED light source.

'This new technology reduces energy consumption and expands usage to 50,000 hours,' Ms Tam said.