BEIJING, July 29 -- Though local translators are busy working to bring Harry Potter's latest adventure to Chinese readers, some enthusiastic fans have started publishing their own translations to help their peers who are eager to read the book, but struggle with English.

    The authentic Chinese version of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is expected to hit shelves in early October.

    "It will take about two months for the three translators to finish the first draft," said Tong Baomin at the People's Literature Publishing House, which has won the right to publish the Chinese version of the book.

    Translations of first dozen chapters of the book have already appeared on blogs or Harry Potter fan club Websites, however. Most of the translations have earned applause from Netizens.

    Neil Blair, the lawyer for author J. K. Rowling, confirmed in an e-mail that non-commercial fan fictions including online translations are permitted. Tong agreed that online translation works by fans might be used to produce pirated books, but he said it is hard to fight with pirated book producers and sellers.

    "Once we even tried to enter an underground workshop where they produced pirated books in disguise. Our colleague's life was threatened, and the action did little help," he added.

    Pirated copies of the latest Potter book have already shown up at several streetside stalls, where they sell for 20 yuan (US$2.47) to 40 yuan. Last week, two links to a complete English version of the book were found on Blogchina.com, an online diary Website. Rowling's lawyers have sent a notice to the Website, asking it to delete the links. Enditem

(Source: Shanghai Daily News)