Do you mean that your assembler produces an error if you try

mov 096h,#0 ?

(I'd really like you to confirm this) If so: I'd refer 2500AD to the bin.

About your workaround:
Doing hex editing in the object code should work in my opinion, but the risk is there that you would inadveratantly replace a 0a0h which is not referring to p2 at all. The opcode orl c,/bit also translates as 0a0h, and if you have mov dptr,#041a0h in your code for example, there's another innocent 0a0h you will accidentally replace with 096h. I wouldn't do it because of this, but if you must, be careful!