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13.
Unfortunately a number of highly unpopular steps will indeed have to be taken in the next few months, the timing of which will be largely out of Government's control and over which Government will have little chance of mitigating public indignation, real or whipped up. The news of a substantial increase in the defence contribution is quite likely to be inflammatory; but of equal danger is the fact that the bus companies (particularly KMB) are again in severe financial difficulties, and fare increases in the near future unavoidable.
14.
Further, we currently look like being in for an increasing amount (from a low base) of student agitation, egged on by European and American dissidents. The issue of the Senkaku Islands is the favourite cause for demonstrations at the moment; and it goes without saying that there is nothing we can do to meet them over this issue.
15.
Next, the results of the Salaries Commission are unlikely to be other than controversial: particularly as regards teachers and nurses, these grades being ones whose salaries also govern the salaries of large numbers of teachers and nurses in subvented non-Government organizations. Both also can rely on emotional support from the public. Finally, negotiations over the many current issues of external trade relations are unlikely to result in
arrangements which please everybody, and the blame will fall on Government.
16.
It may well also now become harder to effect reviews of confrontation prisoners' sentences, both because the unofficials on the Board may be more reluctant to recommend reductions, and because one section of public opinion will inevitably obtain publicity for their condemnation of the releases and point to the recent as grounds for their objection. On the other hand, I would hope that the recent démarche over ping-pong may have
"bombing"
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