Supplement to the John Hancock Declaration Trust Prospectus
Dated May 1, 1998 as revised October 21, 1998
John Hancock V.A. Sovereign Investors Fund
The trustees of John Hancock V.A. Sovereign Investors Fund approved the
termination of the fund's subadviser, John Hancock Sovereign Asset Management
Corporation, as of December 31, 1998.
This termination will not change the fund's present portfolio management team
lead by John F. Snyder III and Barry H. Evans, CFA. Mr. Snyder and Mr. Evans are
presently officers of John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (the "Adviser"), and the rest
of the team will become employees of the Adviser on January 1, 1999.
John Hancock V.A. Strategic Income Fund
Frederick L. Cavanaugh, Jr. and Arthur N. Calavritinos have led the fund's
portfolio management team since the fund's inception. Mr. Cavanaugh, senior vice
president, has been in the investment business since 1975 and joined the Adviser
in 1986. Mr. Calavritinos, vice president, has been in the investment business
since 1987 and joined the Adviser in 1988.
January 14, 1999
PVA0PS 1/99
