If the first step is fast enough and the second slow enough, concentration of [ClO] is directly proportional to the concentration of [Cl] (with some simplifying assumptions). Thus we can use either one (the difference will be just in the value of the k). [Cl] is in such a case more logical choice, as it is something that is present initially, regardless of the whole process.
In kinetics it is quite common do such mathematical tricks and approximations.