Getting code into a page via literal (or similar)?

Hi - I'm using a Web Content Management System that has a bug in it that removes <contenttemplate> tags. I thought that maybe I could insert these via something like a literal but haven't had any luck, presumably becuase the code isn't being processed server-side. This is the code:

<asp:updatepanel class="sys_findit-search" id="finditsearchPanel" runat="server"><contenttemplate><fieldset>
                    ..several radiobuttons...</fieldset><fieldset>
                    ..another fieldset with two more radiobuttons...</fieldset></contenttemplate></asp:updatepanel>

After saving this in the CMS the contenttemplate tags are removed. I can add things like literals and basic VB 'custom code' to manipulate them e.g. instead of the last two lines I tried:

<asp:literal id="replaceStrip2" runat="server"/>

and tried to manipulate it in the 'Custom Code' with the following (which appeared clientside):

replaceStrip2.Text += "</contenttemplate></asp:updatepanel>"

Any ideas on how to get these in AND have them run server-side?

Any help greatly appreciated :)

Regards,
Rob