He was responding to a charge by Macau casino king Stanley Ho who celebrated his 84th birthday Friday with half-page advertisements in several newspapers calling on the people of Hong Kong to support the government's package and accusing Zen of straying from the traditional church role of political neutrality.

"Today is my 84th birthday ... I sincerely hope that ... everyone will unite and build a harmonious, stable and prosperous Hong Kong," Ho said in the advertisements.

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However, Zen told 300 followers at a gathering at St Francis Church Friday that he has not breached the rules of the church.

"There are reports that I have taken the lead in encouraging people to attend the rally. I have not encouraged followers to march but it is their right to do so in the pursuit of full democracy."

Ho's statement follows the line taken by Hopewell Holdings chairman Gordon Wu who earlier this week described protest marches as "mob politics."

Ho said the stance taken by the pan- democratic camp and Zen will impede rather than hasten democracy.

He called on all sides to discuss Hong Kong's political development rationally instead of adopting an antagonistic approach.

He said squabbling over a fixed date for full democracy or other forms of emotional wrangling will not resolve differences.

Ho said that even in one of the world's most democratic nations, the United States, the president was not elected under the one-man-one-vote system.

"It is dangerous if rallies are manipulated as there could be riots and this would jeopardize Hong Kong's international reputation and shatter the confidence of foreign investors," Ho said.

"Those who insist on motivating the people to march and insist on opposing the reform package are committing a selfish act and are disregarding the aspirations of the majority of the people. Those who impede the progress of democracy should bear the consequences."

Ho said the government's proposals are democratic and progressive, and deserve full support.

Meanwhile, legal sector legislator Margaret Ng and Kwok Ka-ki of the medical sector reported on their three- day trip to Brussels, where they voiced their discontent over the reform package to the European parliament.

They said the European People's Party, the European Christian Democratic Party and the European Liberal Party will be discussing a common resolution in the second week of next month in support of a timetable for full democracy in Hong Kong.