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CARL SMITH
There may have been some substance to these reports, for, after leaving the service of the Hongkong Government, he became attached to the Kwangtung Provincial Tax Bureau. It was while he was in the Kwangtung Government administration that he became interested in the development of the mines of the province.
A specimen of lead ore from the Wei Chau area was brought to his attention. It was almost pure ore. He sent a party to inspect the mine. Previously it had been worked by the Government, but after expending a large amount of money, the work had to be suspended because the mine was flooded. A-mei thought he could overcome this problem with modern machinery. He approached the Viceroy and was able to get his approval, but in the face of opposition from other officials, he decided not to pursue the project further.
Some of his friends, however, did start work, having raised some $8,000. By the time the water problem was solved, all the money had been spent and further work was abandoned.
Ho A-mei's interest in the mineral wealth of Kwangtung had been aroused and he sent prospectors to various areas of the province to secure ore samples. From the reports he was convinced mining could be undertaken with profit.
In 1880 he became interested in some old mines at Tam Chow near the Bogue forts (Fu-mun) on the Pearl River. Some 30 years before they had been successfully developed at a profit of some $300,000, but this mine was also flooded so work had been abandoned. With the experience of his friends at the Wei Chow mines in the Wing On District in mind, A-mei decided it was not worth pursuing the reopening of the Tam Chow mines.
In 1883, however, a number of stone cutters struck a rich vein of ore about half a mile from the old mine. A-mei sent a specimen to England and it was found to be 13 per cent silver. He bought the mine for $10,000.
Not long after, his attention was directed to mineral deposits on Lantao Island at Silvermine Bay. Investigation of the site indicated it was worth working. He arranged to lease the site for $2,000 a