Elsie Leung's secretary beats off 364 rivals to become . . . Elsie Leung's

The Secretary of Justice's former private-practice secretary has defeated more than 360 applicants to win back a job with her boss, prompting charges the selection had been pre-arranged.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said of assistant social secretary Esther Tsui: 'She has been chosen through an open and fair process. She is the best available candidate.' Ms Tsui will start work on Monday.

The vacancy was advertised last month and 364 people applied, of whom 22 were shortlisted for a written test and an interview. The selection board was chaired by a senior executive officer. It had three other members, including Secretary of Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie's senior personal assistant.

The spokesman said he was not sure whether board members knew Ms Tsui was Ms Leung's former secretary. Ms Tsui worked for the firm of solicitors Iu, Lai and Li at which Ms Leung was a partner. She was Ms Leung's secretary for more than 10 years, but stopped work in March after Ms Leung was appointed Secretary of Justice-designate.

Ms Tsui is on a 2.5-year contract with a salary starting at $29,100. She will provide secretarial and executive support to Ms Leung and help organise social functions.

Ousted legislator Cheung Man-kwong said the application had been fixed.