One reason that it has taken so long to deport four Chinese nationals who attempted to enter Bermuda on forged Japanese passports was made clear yesterday - they are not all from China.

Assistant Chief Immigration Officer Rozy Azhar confirmed yesterday that Tan Kok Foo, formerly known to Bermudian officials as Hedong Sun, the oldest of the four and the only one who speaks English, is from Singapore.

She also confirmed that the 38-year-old will leave Bermuda this evening on the British Airways flight to return to Singapore. "It's very difficult to verify who they are," she said. "You have to take their word for it."

The truth about Mr. Tan's nationality emerged several weeks ago, she said, when officials were trying to acquire documents proving the identities of the four. The arrival of his Singapore passport confirmed his identity.

The other three - Minxiang Zheng, 22, Zhenyong Huang, 22, and Fengzhen Zhang, 27 - are definitely Chinese, she said. In fact, Fengzhen Zhang, the only woman in the group, is scheduled to be deported from Bermuda back to China on the British Airways flight on Sunday.

The future of the remaining two may depend on the courts.

Lawyer Richard Horseman appeared on behalf of the four in closed court yesterday afternoon to ask for a writ of habeas corpus to be served on Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister, the Attorney General, and Commissioner of Prisons John Prescod. He argued the Chinese are now being held in Bermuda unlawfully and should be deported immediately.

Legislation states that once a deportation order has been signed by the Deputy Governor that person can not be detained for any longer than 28 days from the date of the signing. Deputy Governor Tim Gurney signed a deportation order for the four Chinese 49 days ago.

"It went fairly well," Mr. Horseman said of the hearing yesterday.

Acting Justice Philip Storr heard submissions from Mr. Horseman as well as representatives from the Attorney General and an "entourage" of Immigration officials at the initial hearing. After looking at an affidavit from Mr. Horseman and the deportation orders, he was satisfied the four may be being unlawfully detained, and ordered a full hearing for Monday.

If everything goes as scheduled until then, Mr. Horseman will only have to represent the remaining two Chinese at the hearing.

The four were arrested at Bermuda International Airport on January 11 when Immigration officials, acting on information received, quizzed them in Japanese as they attempted to leave the country. None of the four spoke Japanese. They have been on remand ever since.