Officials have not ruled out keeping the status quo at the end of public consultation over a proposed press council.
Secretary for Home Affairs David Lan Hong-tsung said the administration remained open-minded about the idea floated by the Law Reform Commission for consultation until the end of November.
'At this stage, we do not have a view on it. The fact is that there are different views in society on this issue,' he said.
The commission proposed the council would have the power to fine newspapers up to $1 million for intruding on privacy.
Mr Lan said his bureau, whose responsibilities cover privacy protection, had not been involved in the two consultation papers on privacy by the commission's subcommittee. 'I only learned of the proposal from newspapers,' he said.
But Mr Lan said his staff had made some proposals on technicalities relating to the implementation of the proposal.
'They are all technical in nature such as whether readership of a newspaper or magazine should include their circulation overseas,' he said.