Hong Kong  - Former US president Bill Clinton will next month receive an honorary degree for his work in the HIV/AIDS field from the University of Hong Kong.

The university said Thursday the ceremony will take place on December 4 when Clinton will be conferred an honorary Doctor of Law for his work in the field which includes helping 1.4 million sufferers access life-saving drugs through his Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative.

Also present will be Taiwan-born AIDS researcher Dr David Ho who will receive an honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his contribution to medicine and work in helping the cause in China.

Basketball star Yao Ming will be given an honorary Doctor of Social Sciences sometime next year for helping fight the social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, particularly in China, said the university.

The Houston Rockets star has appeared in commercials with fellow basketball player Magic Johnson to support the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. He has also taken part in various activities in China including visiting child sufferers.

In September 2008, he was presented with the Award for Outstanding Contributions to the AIDS Response by UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

Dr Ho is the Scientific Director and CEO of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and a professor at the Rockefeller University, New York.

He has been the forefront of AIDS research for three decades and heads an alliance of Chinese and American organizations dedicated to helping address the HIV/AIDS crisis in China.

The University of Hong Kong's tradition of awarding honorary degrees began in 1916. Past awardees include Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and King Edward VIII. (dpa)