HONG KONG, July 19 -- Are you a "cat" or are you a "rat"?

Amid the tightly-packed antique shops of Upper Lascar Row in Sheung Wan, this question used to reverberate more deeply.

When this neighbourhood first became a bazaar for vintage and second-hand items in the 1920s, it was also infamous for the trade of stolen goods.

The local Cantonese, fond as they are of euphemisms, called these illegal items "rat goods" and the folks who purchased them "cats", which in time gave the area its memorable name: Cat Street.

Today, Cat Street and its surrounding area, including Hollywood Road and Tung Street, are a haven for antique collectors in Hong Kong.

First explore the open-air stalls where some of the best bargains can be found

Whether you...