A/RES/48/51 Page 14 Taking note of the plans to transfer the Office for Tokelau Affairs from Apia to Tokelau, Noting the Territory’s continuing efforts to strengthen the role of its local institutions and to assume more responsibility for its own affairs, while reaffirming its desire to retain its special relationship with New Zealand, Noting also the endeavours of Tokelau to develop its marine and other resources and its efforts to diversify the income-earning ability of its population, Noting further the concern of the people of the Territory regarding the serious consequences of changes in climatic patterns on the future of Tokelau, Noting with appreciation the assistance extended to Tokelau by the administering Power, other Member States and specialized agencies, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and its setting up of a third country programme for Tokelau for the period 1992-1996, 1. Encourages the Government of New Zealand, the administering Power, to continue to respect fully the wishes of the people of Tokelau in carrying out the political and economic development of the Territory in such a way as to preserve their social, cultural and traditional heritage and to seek solutions which would meet the unique future needs of Tokelau; 2. Notes with satisfaction the agreement to continue the process of transferring to Tokelau the responsibility for administration of the Territory, and the decision by Tokelau to establish a Council of Faipule (joint chairmen of the General Fono) to provide ongoing government for the Territory between sessions of the General Fono; 3. Requests the administering Power to take all necessary measures to facilitate the exercise by the Territory of its political and administrative functions and, in this regard, takes note of the plans to transfer the Office for Tokelau Affairs from Apia to Tokelau; 4. Invites all governmental and non-governmental organizations, financial institutions, Member States and specialized agencies to grant or continue to grant Tokelau special emergency economic assistance to mitigate the effects of cyclonic storms and to enable the Territory to meet its mediumand long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation requirements and address the issues of changes in climatic patterns; 5. Welcomes the invitation of the administering Power 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 to dispatch a visiting mission to Tokelau in 1994. IX. - Turks and Caicos Islands The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, /...