"I was asked to make a whole band for her with several singers, microphones and all the musical instruments. It took me a week to make," Lau said.
Observers have asked Lau to make refrigerators, radios and washing machines -- anything that can make the life of a ghost more bearable.
The most popular requests are for mobile phones, plasma televisions and personal computers.
Most of the small items are machine-made and shipped from factories in Dongguan, southern China. But big items like houses, cars and servants are made by hand in Hong Kong.
Many superstitions surround the festival, especially the idea that people should not wander alone late at night during this month, for fear of being possessed. They are warned away from swimming in case ghosts trying to drown them.
As a result, roadside traditional Chinese operas are often held to entertain and distract the spirits from their pursuit of havoc.
In more superstitious times, seats at these operas remained empty as they were believed to be occupied by ghostly guests. Today, believers are increasingly ready to fill them, after politely inquiring whether the seats are taken.
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