圖一：譯者曾三度前往荔枝莊，甚愛此地，圖為2008/12/13所攝
圖二：荔枝莊奇石景：龍船石
正當西灣事件沸沸揚揚之際，西貢荔枝莊的42塊土地又被買起。
由鄉議局委員梁和平控股的Maxland(Asia)，自五月起最少買下了毗鄰西貢西郊野公園的荔枝莊的42塊土地，面積近100,000呎，作價650萬港元。荔枝莊具備特殊科學價值，沿岸地貌獨特，屬香港地質公園一部分，乃行山人士的熱門遊覽地點。
暫未知Maxland有何發展計劃，也未知會否向村民再買更多土地。
土地註冊署的資料顯示，有關成交於4月30日進行，然而Maxland尚未繳付全數數額。Maxland共有五名董事，梁和平是其一，九龍殯儀館董事總經理程廣寧也是董事。梁和平兩年前曾打算參選功能界別，但政府不接納其參選，因他未能及時放棄英籍。本報昨日未能聯絡梁氏。
荔枝莊是毗鄰或被西貢郊野公園包圍的約20個地區之一。這些地區未受任何法定分區計劃大綱圖覆蓋，多是農地，如要更改用途，須先徵得地政總署同意。
2010/7/26，《南華早報》C1，Cheung Chi-fai報導，謝冠東翻譯
Another sensitive land sale emerges
As anger simmers over a Sai Wan project, 42 plots are snapped up at Lai Chi Chong
Bit by bit, Hong Kong's most loved countryside has quietly been falling into the hands of private companies snapping up sensitive ecological sites in bulk - this time at Lai Chi Chong.
Since May, a company controlled by a Heung Yee Kuk councillor has bought at least 42 plots at Lai Chi Chong adjacent to Sai Kung West Country Park, near a site of special scientific interest, for HK$6.5 million.
With a combined size of nearly 100,000 square feet, the plots of once-agricultural land are scattered mostly on the western bank of a stream that cuts across a village, an area popular among hikers for the unique geographical features of the coastal area, part of the Hong Kong Geopark.
It remains unclear what plans the company - Maxland (Asia) - has for its newly acquired properties and whether it is aiming to buy up more sites from local villagers.
Land registry information shows the land deals were sealed on April 30 and full payment has yet to be made by the company, which has five directors, including Leung Wo-ping, a councillor of the kuk, which represents the interests of indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories, and Ching Kwong-ning, a director of the Kowloon Funeral Parlour.
Leung, whose bid for a functional constituency seat was rejected by the government two years ago because he failed to renounce his British citizenship in time, could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Lai Chi Chong is among about 20 sites that are close to or encompassed by the Sai Kung country parks, but all are outside the boundary of the protected areas.
The sites are not covered by any statutory zoning requiring planning permission for development.
Most of them are on old land leases that state the sites should be for agricultural use unless the Lands Department has given approval for an alternative use.
2010/7/26，SCMP C1，By Cheung Chi-fai
荔枝莊屬香港地質公園一部分，地質公園網站有專題介紹：http://www.geopark.gov.hk/b5_landforms1h.html