Four Chinese immigrants who entered the Island last month using false documents learned yesterday they will be deported to their country sometime within the next 28 days.

Zhang Fengzhen, 27, Zheng Minxiang, 22, Huang Zhen Yong, 22, and Hedong Sun, 38, arrived at Bermuda International Airport on January 11, from London on a British Airways flight and were due to leave two days later for the US - until they quizzed by US Immigration Officers at the airport.

During the weekly mention session in Magistrates' Court, Crown counsel Wayne Caines told Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves that under Section 106 of the Immigration Act, a deportation order was being made by his office.

However, when he heard this, Sun, who is the only one in the group who speaks English, expressed his frustration with what he called "Immigration taking its sweet time".

Sun said when they were first remanded into custody, the group had confidence the Immigration Department would resolve their situation, but their feelings had changed.

"We've been in custody for 33 days and we are under stress," he said. "The last time we were here you (Mr. Greaves) said you would do something for us. Immigration is dragging out this situation."

However, Mr.Caines explained his office and Immigration were doing all they could to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible, but it was no easy task.

"They came here with false documents. We have to call all over the place because the documents were forged.

"It's unfortunate that it is inconvenient for them, but we are operating under the law," Mr. Caines said.