Chow Chung-lim's first success came in 1954 when his still life photograph "Candlelight" was accepted by the London Salon for exhibition. His results in open competitions in the 1950s and 60s, including those held by the Hong Kong Products Expo, the Sing Tao Evening Post and the Festival of Hong Kong, were impressive.
For two years Chow Chung-lim's annual aggregate scores in international salon exhibitions placed him among the world's top ten photographers in the pictorial division. In one of those years, 1961, he was in first place. He was awarded the title of fellow of the Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique and the Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association. He also qualified as fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.
Chow Chung-lim started his photography business in 1962. His clients were department stores such as Lane Crawford and Daimaru, airlines, property developers, advertising agencies, manufacturers and printers. In recent years he has been contract photographer of the auction house, Sotheby's.
Chow Chung-lim served several societies as salon judge and qualification assessor, and as open competition judge. He qualified as fellow of the Photographic Society of Hong Kong in 1960, the first year in which the Society granted titles by examination. He served the Society as vice-president for five terms and as salon chairman, and received the title of honorary fellow for his contributions. He was vice-president of the Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association in 1968 - 69, and holds the title of fellow of the Association.