Lawyer Richard Horseman will appear in closed court today to ask for a writ of habeas corpus ensuring the immediate release of the four Chinese nationals arrested at the Airport nearly three months ago for travelling on forged passports.

Once a deportation order has been issued and signed by the Deputy Governor applicants can be detained, if necessary, until such a time as they can be placed on board any vessel leaving Bermuda - so long as that time is not longer than 28 days after the order has been served.

However Deputy Governor Tim Gurney signed deportation orders for the four on February 20 of this year - 48 days ago.

In light of this fact, Mr. Horseman was contacted by Legal Aid, who asked that he act for the Chinese. He agreed and plans to ask today in court for the writ to be issued on Commissioner of Corrections John Prescod, Minister of Home Affairs Terry Lister, and the Attorney General. Later a hearing will be held in open court.

Previously Immigration officials said the reason it was taking so long to deport the four was that there were several difficulties regarding their identification.

Authorities in China had been contacted and it was only a matter of receiving confirmation from those authorities.