Option 1 states that East Timor was a British colony for four centuries, which is incorrect. East Timor was a Portuguese colony, not British.

Option 2 suggests that European colonial rulers handed over East Timor to Indonesia in 1975. This is inaccurate, as after the colonial power, Portugal, withdrew, Indonesia invaded East Timor, not a handover procedure from any European power.

Option 3 is the correct answer. It mentions that the United Nations took over East Timor in 1999 to prepare it for independence. This is accurate as there was a referendum for independence in 1999, after which militias backed by the Indonesian military revolted. The United Nations stepped in, restoring order and overseeing the transition to independence.

Option 4 implies that East Timor declared independence in December 2001. This is incorrect as East Timor declared its independence on May 20, 2002.