Continuing in the spirit of celebrating the country's centennial of democracy, the Finnish consulate is also organising a seminar on the 'Future of Democracy' at the university's Tang Chi Nong Building from 4pm to 6pm. Speakers include Mika Mannermaa, a political analyst who will discuss the challenges facing democracy worldwide over the next few decades.

Contributing views on the contentious topic for Hong Kong are three local university professors, Joseph Chan Cho-wai and Peter Cheung Tsan-yan of HKU, and Ray Yep Kin-man of City University and SynergyNet.

Completing the Independence Day programme is an evening concert at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Focusing on Finland's affinity with the tango, it is headlined by Janne Rattya, one of the country's most famous accordionists, accompanied by up-and-coming young cellist Taneli Turunen.

As the historical exhibition elaborates, Finland has come a long way since declaring democracy in 1907, when it notably became the first country in the world to grant universal suffrage, with voting and election candidacy rights for both men and women.

A decade later it audaciously broke away from Tsarist Russia to declare independence, although Finland was treading freedom's tightrope for a long time afterwards.

During the second world war it in turn fought-off the communist Soviet Union and Germany. During the Cold War that followed, Finland was constantly alert to the threat of Moscow's expansionist ambitions.

Yet despite being relatively isolated in northern Scandinavia with a population of just over 5 million, Finland's achievements since have been widely complimented.

Its welfare state is universally admired, while the World Economic Forum consistently ranks Finland among the top three most competitive countries in the world, and the leader in environmental sustainability.

The country is also a recognised pioneer in information and telecommunications technology, as well as industrial design.

Finnish high school students have meanwhile led the world's intelligence quotient ranking for the past three years, while the country is also a forerunner and global model in elderly welfare.

Perhaps not surprisingly for a country renowned as the home of Nokia, Finland also heads the world in mobile phone penetration.

'People often ask how we have done it,' said the Finnish Consul General in Hong Kong Timo Rajakangas. 'As Finns, we don't like to boast. But we are very proud of our achievements.'

The seminar on Finland's sturdy defence of its democracy is obviously timely. As Mr Rajakangas put it: 'Both the local and Asean dimension will of course be brought into it. In Finland, we effectively developed from scratch with democracy and it is a system that has brought benefits to all, creating a modern, developed and progressive country.'

He noted that by leading the world in both environmental protection and economic competitiveness, Finland defied the notion that one came at the expense of the other.

The introduction of direct flights from Hong Kong to Helsinki this year by national carrier Finnair could only boost those links further, said Mr Rajakangas.

With a journey time of just 10 hours, Helsinki is the closest European airport to Hong Kong.

Tourism is noticeably on the rise in both directions and he said: 'Hong Kong people are familiar with classic European destinations and are looking for new adventures and experiences, with northern Europe a growing focus of attention.'

With the ice hotels, cruises aboard ice-breakers and Christmas holidays to Santa Claus Village in Lapland increasingly popular, tourism will doubtless be boosted further by this week's release of The Golden Compass starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, the film adaptation of Philip Pullman's award-winning novel, Northern Lights.

London's Observer newspaper only this week remarked of Finland: 'This is a staggering part of the world, unique in its isolation, unsurpassable in its opaque beauty. Go now.'

Along with tourism, economic and government ties with Hong Kong are flourishing.

'The official presence in Hong Kong of the consulate general, the Trade Center Finpro and the Finnish Tourist Board along with frequent official visits in both directions are a clear demonstration of the significance that both sides attach to the bilateral relationship,' said Mr Rajakangas.

Hong Kong's Secretary of Commerce, Industry and Technology Joseph Wong Wing-ping most recently visited Helsinki this summer.

Having signed an Air Services Agreement, Finland and Hong Kong are about to finalise an Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection.

In trade, China is Finland's biggest export partner in Asia, while Hong Kong ranks fifth, just behind India. China also leads imports, while Hong Kong's slip down the import rankings to 10th is artificial, most obviously because Nokia phones are now manufactured on the mainland and do not statistically register as Finnish.

'The trade figures alone do not give enough credit to Hong Kong's importance as a regional business and financial centre, and excellent bridge to the huge Chinese markets,' stressed the consul general.

For about 50 Finnish companies in Hong Kong, he insisted: 'Hong Kong continues to be an important bridge between Finland and China. Entering Chinese markets directly is still seen as riskier and at least more difficult by most foreign companies compared to entering via Hong Kong. There are lots of possibilities to further strengthen and deepen our co-operation.'