Hong Kong’s decision to deny a visa to Ma Ying-jeou, the mayor of Taipei, may backfire against China as it could further strengthen the island’s alienation from the mainland, politicians and academics said.

Mr Ma, one of Taiwan’s most popular politicians and the strongest contender to be the future presidential candidate of the opposition Kuomintang, said he had planned a three-day visit to Hong Kong next week after being invited to speak at events organised by the University of Hong Kong.