Harry Potter mania hits Asia

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

HONG KONG (AFP) — All-night parties and Hogwarts Express-style train trips were among the hundreds of events planned Friday as Harry Potter fans across Asia prepared for the eagerly-awaited release of the seventh and final book in the series.

In Muslim Bangladesh, where Friday is a holiday, customs offices were staying open specially to ensure fans got their delivery of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" on time, while in Thailand, the British ambassador was planning an early start to hand over the first copy of the book.

In Australia, the region's biggest English-language market, fans of the boy wizard were expected to brave the chill winter weather to camp out overnight to ensure they receive one of the first copies.

Book stores across the country will...