In the mid 1950s there were two groups of salon photographers in Hong Kong: one group entrusted K.C. Chew to do their mailing, the other was led by Wu Kay-hau.
Later the two groups joined forces to establish the Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association for the purpose of expediting photographers' submissions to international salons by concentrating manpower and resources. It was in 1963 that the Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association came into existence. In the first term Wu Kay-hau was president, Onward Szeto and K.C. Chew were vice-presidents; K.C. Chew was president in 1968-70. For his contributions to the Association he was awarded the title of honorary fellow.
K.C. Chew attained a place among the top ten salon photographers in the monochrome print division. He held the 5-Star Exhibitor title of the Photographic Society of America, and was its associate. His other titles included the fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.
K.C. Chew made his name with some pictures of urban scenes in rain. When China was first opened to tourists in the early 1970s he travelled to Guilin and came back with many photographs which were published in Beautiful Kweilin (Photo Pictorial Publishers).