Chinese wizards work their magic with Harry Potter

BEIJING, Aug 16 (Reuters) Chinese students have worked their magic on Harry Potter, translating the latest instalment within hours of release of the English version, state media said today.

The official Chinese version hits book shops late in October but fans can already download dozens of translations of J K Rowling's ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows''.

The first full-length translated version is said to have appeared on the Internet on July 21, the day of the book's global release.

''Teenagers on their summer holidays reportedly bought the English copies as soon as bookstores opened and started translating,'' the China Daily said.

''They worked in teams and round the clock, eating nothing but instant noodles, according to messages they left on the Internet.'' To fend off charges of copyright infringement, a huge issue in a country where fake goods from designer clothes and drugs to DVDs and golf clubs, are widely available, the students inserted a notice in their translations.

''We translated the book because we love Harry, and we do not intend to use it for commercial purposes.'' REUTERS RJ HT1100