[2] From 1967 to 1971, Ow worked as a research and teaching assistant at Vanderbilt University.
[3] In 1976, Ow made his political debut with the People's Action Party (PAP) at the 1976 Singaporean general election.
[6] In 1980, Ow opened the Singapore Historical Photographs Exhibition by the Ministry of Culture and the National Archives and Records Centre.
[9] In the 1984 Singaporean general election, he remained as the MP representing Leng Kee Single Member Constituency after he won against Workers' Party's (WP) George Benjamin Armstrong's 33.16% with his 66.84% of the vote.
[13] In 1997, after the dissolution of Leng Kee Single Member Constituency, Ow contested in the 1997 Singaporean general election for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency with Chay Wai Chuen, Koo Tsai Kee, Lee Kuan Yew, Lim Swee Say, and S. Vasoo.