A/RES/50/38 Page 10 X. Tokelau The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, Having heard the statements of the representative of New Zealand, the administering Power, and the Special Representative of Tokelau, who conveyed a message from the Council of Faipule (joint chairmen of the General Fono (Council)) to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling the solemn declaration on the future status of Tokelau delivered by the Ulu-o-Tokelau (highest authority of Tokelau) on 30 July 1994, that an act of self-determination in Tokelau is now under active consideration, together with the constitution of a self-governing Tokelau, and that the present preference of Tokelau is for a status of free association with New Zealand, Noting the emphasis placed in the solemn declaration on the terms of Tokelau’s intended free association relationship with New Zealand, including the expectation that the form of help Tokelau could continue to expect from New Zealand in promoting the well-being of its people, besides its external interests, would be clearly established in the framework of that relationship, Noting also the Territory’s concentrated focus in 1995 on strengthening its national institutions and creating a structure of government to meet modern needs, preparatory to the exercise by the people of Tokelau of their right to self-determination, Acknowledging the endeavours of Tokelau to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Recalling the dispatch in 1994 of a United Nations visiting mission to Tokelau, 1. Notes, on the basis of statements made by representatives of the administering Power and Tokelau subsequent to the 1994 United Nations visiting mission, that Tokelau is working towards an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in Principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Also notes the expressed wishes of the people of the Territory indicating a strong preference for a status of free association with New Zealand; /...