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Published on July 21, 2007

The loveable young British wizard is set to swoop into Bangkok's premier shopping centres, and the secret should be out by the crack of dawn.

The arrival of JK Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has shaken Bangkok youngsters like no other publication in the past.

Publishers and bookshops have gone to extraordinary lengths to protect the content.

Security measures at all shops in Bangkok have been stepped up, and personnel are on standby just in case frenzied fans get out of hand and begin to step on one another.

Asia Books is scheduled to open its doors at 4am at Emporium's main entrance while across the street at Bookazine Siam the gates open 6am.

B2S will cast a spell over Central World Plaza at 5am with hardcore Potter fans like Sara Malakul Lane and Andrew Biggs waving their wands for extra magic.

Nanmee Books at Siam Paragon will join the magic at 5am with hundreds of dyed-in-the-wool Hogwarts wizards expected to show up.

Chawalida Nityasomboon, public-relations officer at Nanmee, said its shipment had arrived in Bangkok two days before and immediately been sent to a warehouse. No more than five people were involved in the transport of the book for fear it would be leaked and pirated.

She said a lorry would leave the company's warehouse at 3am. Staff have been told be at work at 4am. The doors will open at 5.07am - the seven minutes past the hour reflecting that this is the seventh volume.

Post delivery staff in Bangkok have been instructed to deliver books by 6am to customers who got them through mail order. Residents living outside Bangkok should get their copies no later than 4pm.