Which one of the following statements is correct?

The correct option is C because of the following historical facts: Statement A is incorrect because East Timor was a Portuguese colony for over four centuries, not British. Statement B is incorrect because after Portugal withdrew in 1975, East Timor briefly declared independence but was immediately invaded and annexed by Indonesia. The colonial rulers did not hand it over to Indonesia. Statement C is correct. Following a 1999 referendum where East Timorese voted for independence, widespread violence broke out. The United Nations established the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in 1999 to administer the territory and oversee its transition to full sovereignty. Statement D is incorrect because East Timor officially achieved international recognition and restored its independence on May 20, 2002, not in December 2001.