HANCOCK JOHN SERIES TRUST
485BPOS, 2000-01-05
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                                                           FILE NOS. 333-85469
                                                                        811-3392

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM N-14

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933        / /

                        Pre-Effective Amendment No. ____                   / /

                         Post-Effective Amendment No. 1                    /X/

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)

                            JOHN HANCOCK SERIES TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

            101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02199-7603
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Address of Principal Executive Office including Zip Code)

                                 (617) 375-1700
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

                                With a copy to:
                                ---------------

                                 Susan S. Newton
                              101 Huntington Avenue
                                Boston, MA 02199

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

No filing fee is required because an indefinite number of shares have previously
been registered pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

It is proposed that this filing will become  effective  immedia tely upon filing
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.

<PAGE>



                          JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES

                     STATEMENT OF INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The Cross-Reference Sheet, Part A, Part B and Part C of the registrant's
registration statement on Form N-14, File Nos. 333-85469 and 811-3392, dated
August 18, 1999, are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.





<PAGE>
[IMPORT OMITTED]

Washington, DC    Boston, MA        London, UK*

              HALE AND DORR LLP INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS
  *BROBECK HALE AND DORR INTERNATIONAL (AN INDEPENDENT JOINT VENTURE LAW FIRM)


                               Counsellors at Law



<PAGE>



                               HALE AND DORR LLP

                               Counsellors at Law

                  60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                         617-526-6000 o fax 617-526-5000




                                December 10, 1999



Board of Trustees
John Hancock Series Trust, on behalf of
John Hancock Small Cap Growth Fund
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts  02199

Board of Trustees
John Hancock Special Equities Fund
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts  02199

Dear Members of the Boards of Trustees:

         You have requested our opinion regarding certain federal income tax
consequences described below of the acquisition by John Hancock Small Cap Growth
Fund ("Acquiring Fund"), a series of John Hancock Series Trust ("Trust"), of all
of the assets of John Hancock Special Equities Fund ("Acquired Fund"), in
exchange solely for (i) the assumption by Acquiring Fund of all of the
liabilities of Acquired Fund and (ii) the issuance of Class A, Class B, Class C
and Class I voting shares of beneficial interest of Acquiring Fund (the
"Acquiring Fund Shares") to Acquired Fund, followed by the distribution by
Acquired Fund, in liquidation of Acquired Fund, of the Acquiring Fund Shares to
the shareholders of Acquired Fund and the termination of Acquired Fund (the
foregoing together constituting the "reorganization" or the "transaction").

         In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the facts
stated and representations made in (i) the combined prospectus for Class A,
Class B and Class C shares of Acquiring Fund, Acquired Fund and certain other
John Hancock mutual funds, dated July 1, 1999, (ii) the prospectus for Class I
shares of Acquiring Fund, dated September 27, 1999, (iii) the prospectus for
Class Y shares of Acquired Fund, dated July 1, 1999, (iv) the statement of
additional information for Acquiring Fund, dated July 16, 1999, (v) the
statement of additional information for Acquired Fund, dated March 1, 1999, (vi)
the Notice of Meeting of Shareholders Scheduled for December 1, 1999 and the

<PAGE>


accompanying proxy statement and prospectus relating to the transaction, dated
September 27, 1999 (the "Proxy Statement"), (vii) the memorandum, dated July 9,
1999, regarding the transaction from Anne Hodsdon to the Boards of Trustees of
Trust and Acquired Fund, (viii) the memorandum, dated July 19, 1999, regarding
the transaction from John Hancock Advisers, Inc. to the Boards of Trustees of
Trust and Acquired Fund, (ix) the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, made
July 20, 1999, between Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund (the "Agreement"), (x)
the representation letters on behalf of Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund
referred to below and (xi) such other documents as we deemed appropriate.

         In our  examination of documents,  we have assumed the  authenticity of
original documents,  the accuracy of copies, the genuineness of signatures,  and
the legal  capacity  of  signatories.  We have  assumed  that all parties to the
Agreement have acted and will act in accordance  with the terms of the Agreement
and all other  documents  relating to the  transaction  and that the transaction
will be  consummated  pursuant  to the  terms  and  conditions  set forth in the
Agreement  without the waiver or  modification of any such terms and conditions.
Furthermore,   we  have  assumed  that  all  representations  contained  in  the
Agreement,  as well as those  representations  contained  in the  representation
letters  referred to below are,  on the date  hereof,  true and  complete in all
material  respects,  and that any  representation  made in any of the  documents
referred  to  herein  "to the best of the  knowledge  and  belief"  (or  similar
qualification) of any person or party is correct without such qualification.  We
have not  attempted to verify  independently  such  representations,  but in the
course of our representation, nothing has come to our attention that would cause
us to question the accuracy thereof.

         The conclusions  expressed herein represent our judgment  regarding the
proper treatment of certain aspects of the transaction affecting Acquiring Fund,
Acquired Fund and the shareholders of Acquired Fund on the basis of our analysis
of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code"),  case law,
Treasury  regulations and the rulings and other  pronouncements  of the Internal
Revenue  Service  (the  "Service")  which  exist at the  time  this  opinion  is
rendered. Such authorities are subject to prospective or retroactive change, and
we do not undertake  any  responsibility  to advise you of any such change.  Our
opinion  represents  our best  judgment  regarding  how a court would  decide if


<PAGE>


presented with the issues  addressed  herein and is not binding upon the Service
or any court.  Moreover,  our  opinion  does not provide  any  assurance  that a
position taken in reliance on such opinion will not be challenged by the Service
and does not constitute any representation or warranty that such position, if so
challenged, will not be rejected by a court.

         This opinion  addresses only the specific  United States federal income
tax  consequences of the  transaction set forth below,  and does not address any
other federal,  state, local, or foreign income, estate, gift, transfer,  sales,
or other tax  consequences  that may result  from the  transaction  or any other
transaction.

                                      FACTS

         We understand that the facts relating to the transaction are as
described hereinafter.

         Acquiring Fund is a series of Trust, a business trust established under
the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1996. Trust is registered as an
open-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act").  Each of Acquiring  Fund and its  predecessors  (John  Hancock
Emerging  Growth Fund,  which was the name under which  Acquiring  Fund operated
prior to March 31, 1999, and  Transamerica  Emerging  Growth Fund,  which became
John Hancock Emerging Growth Fund in a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(F)
of the Code that was  consummated  on  December  22,  1994) has  operated  as an
investment company since the inception of business. Acquiring Fund is one of two
series  of Trust.  Each  series of Trust has  assets  and  liabilities  that are
separate  from those of the other  series,  and each such series is treated as a
separate  corporation and regulated  investment  company under Section 851(g) of
the Code.

         The investment objective of Acquiring Fund is to seek long-term capital
appreciation.  To pursue  its  investment  objective,  Acquiring  Fund  normally
invests at least 80% of its assets in stocks of United  States  emerging  growth
companies   with  market   capitalizations   of  no  more  than  $1  billion  (a
capitalization  limitation  that will be changed,  effective March 1, 2000, to a
variable  range based on the Russell 2000 Index  (currently  $10 million to $2.8
billion)).  Acquiring  Fund may also  invest  in other  types of  companies  and
securities, including foreign securities, and certain derivatives.

         Acquired  Fund is a business  trust  established  under the laws of The
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  in  1984  and  is  registered  as  an  open-end
investment  company under the 1940 Act.  Acquired Fund has been  operating as an
investment company since the inception of business in 1984.

<PAGE>


         The investment  objective of Acquired Fund is to seek growth of capital
by  investing  in  a  diversified  portfolio  of  equity  securities  consisting
primarily of emerging growth companies and of companies in "special situations."
To pursue its investment objective,  Acquired Fund normally invests at least 65%
of its assets in stocks of emerging growth companies and companies in situations
offering  unusual or one-time  opportunities.  The Proxy  Statement and Acquired
Fund's prospectus state that emerging growth companies tend to have small market
capitalizations,  typically less than $1 billion.  Acquired Fund may also invest
in certain other types of equity securities,  foreign  securities,  and the same
derivatives in which Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest.

         The steps comprising the reorganization, as set forth in the Agreement,
are as follows:

         (i) Acquired  Fund will  transfer to  Acquiring  Fund all of its assets
(consisting,  without  limitation,  of  portfolio  securities  and  instruments,
dividend and interest  receivables,  cash and other assets). In exchange for the
assets  transferred to it, Acquiring Fund will (A) assume all of the liabilities
of  Acquired  Fund  (comprising  all of its known and  unknown  liabilities  and
referred  to  hereinafter  as the  "Acquired  Fund  Liabilities")  and (B) issue
Acquiring  Fund Shares to Acquired  Fund that have an aggregate  net asset value
equal to the value of the assets transferred to Acquiring Fund by Acquired Fund,
less the Acquired Fund Liabilities assumed by Acquiring Fund.

         (ii)  Promptly  after the  transfer  of its assets to  Acquiring  Fund,
Acquired  Fund will  distribute  in  liquidation  the  Acquiring  Fund Shares it
receives in the exchange to Acquired Fund  shareholders pro rata in exchange for
their  surrender  of their  shares  of  beneficial  interest  of  Acquired  Fund
("Acquired Fund Shares").  In these  exchanges,  holders of Acquired Fund Shares
designated as Class A ("Class A Acquired  Fund  Shares") will receive  Acquiring
Fund Shares designated as Class A ("Class A Acquiring Fund Shares"),  holders of
Acquired Fund Shares designated as Class B ("Class B Acquired Fund Shares") will
receive  Acquiring  Fund Shares  designated as Class B ("Class B Acquiring  Fund
Shares"),  holders  of  Acquired  Fund  Shares  designated  as Class C ("Class C
Acquired Fund Shares") will receive  Acquiring Fund Shares designated as Class C
("Class C Acquiring Fund Shares") and holders of Acquired Fund Shares designated
as Class Y ("Class Y Acquired Fund Shares") will receive  Acquiring  Fund Shares
designated as Class I ("Class I Acquiring Fund Shares").

<PAGE>


         (iii) After such exchanges, liquidation and distribution, the existence
of Acquired Fund will be promptly  terminated in accordance  with  Massachusetts
law.

         The Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  thereby were approved
by the Board of Trustees of Trust,  on behalf of  Acquiring  Fund,  at a meeting
held on July 19, 1999. Acquiring Fund shareholders are not required and were not
asked  to  approve  the   transaction.   The  Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated  thereby were approved by the Board of Trustees of Acquired Fund at
a meeting  held on July 19,  1999,  subject to the  approval  of  Acquired  Fund
shareholders.  Acquired Fund shareholders  approved the transaction at a meeting
held on December 1, 1999.

         Massachusetts law does not provide dissenters' rights for Acquired Fund
shareholders  in  the  transaction.  Additionally,  it is  the  position  of the
Division of Investment Management of the Securities and Exchange Commission that
appraisal rights, in contexts such as the reorganization,  are inconsistent with
Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act and are  therefore  preempted and  invalidated  by
such rule. Consequently, Acquired Fund shareholders will not have dissenters' or
appraisal rights in the transaction.

         Our  opinions  set forth  below are  subject to the  following  factual
assumptions  being true and  correct  (including  statements  relating to future
actions and facts represented to be to the best knowledge of management, whether
or not known).  Authorized  representatives  of Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund
have  represented  to us by letters  of even date  herewith  that the  following
assumptions are true and correct:

         (a)  Neither  Acquiring  Fund nor any  person  treated  as  related  to
Acquiring Fund under Treasury  Regulation Section  1.368-1(e)(3) has any plan or
intention  to redeem or otherwise  reacquire  any of the  Acquiring  Fund Shares
received by  shareholders  of  Acquired  Fund in the  transaction  except in the
ordinary  course of  Acquiring  Fund's  business  in  connection  with its legal
obligation  under  Section  22(e)  of  the  1940  Act as a  registered  open-end
investment  company  to  redeem  its  own  shares  (which  obligation  is not in
connection  with,  modified  in  connection  with,  or in any way related to the
transaction).

         (b) After the  transaction,  Acquiring  Fund will continue the historic
business of Acquired Fund and will use all of the assets  acquired from Acquired
Fund,  which are Acquired  Fund's historic  business  assets,  i.e.,  assets not
acquired as part of or in  contemplation  of the  transaction,  in the  ordinary
course of a business.
<PAGE>


         (c)  Acquiring  Fund  has no plan  or  intention  to sell or  otherwise
dispose of any assets of Acquired Fund acquired in the  transaction,  except for
dispositions  made in the ordinary  course of its business  (i.e.,  dispositions
resulting from investment  decisions made after the  reorganization on the basis
of investment  considerations  independent of the reorganization) or to maintain
its  qualification as a regulated  investment  company under Subchapter M of the
Code.

         (d) The shareholders of Acquiring Fund and the shareholders of Acquired
Fund will  bear  their  respective  expenses,  if any,  in  connection  with the
transaction.

         (e)  Acquiring  Fund and Acquired  Fund will each bear its own expenses
incurred in connection  with the  transaction.  Any liabilities of Acquired Fund
attributable  to such  expenses  that remain  unpaid on the closing  date of the
transaction   and  are  assumed  by  Acquiring  Fund  in  the   transaction  are
attributable to Acquired Fund's expenses that are solely and directly related to
the transaction in accordance with the guidelines established in Rev. Rul.
73-54, 1973-1 C.B. 187.

         (f) There is no indebtedness between Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund.

         (g) Acquired  Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated  investment
company under Subchapter M of the Code, has qualified as a regulated  investment
company for each taxable  year since  inception,  and  qualifies as such for its
taxable year ending on the closing date of the transaction.

         (h) Acquiring Fund or a predecessor of Acquiring Fund has elected to be
treated as a regulated  investment  company under Subchapter M of the Code. Each
of Acquiring Fund and its predecessors  has qualified as a regulated  investment
company for each taxable year since  inception,  and Acquiring Fund qualifies as
such as of the date of the transaction.

         (i) Neither  Acquiring Fund nor Acquired Fund is under the jurisdiction
of a  court  in a Title  11 or  similar  case  within  the  meaning  of  Section
368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

         (j)  Acquiring  Fund  does  not  own  and  neither  it  nor  any of its
predecessors  has ever  owned,  directly or  indirectly,  any shares of Acquired
Fund.

         (k) Acquiring  Fund will not pay cash in lieu of  fractional  shares in
connection with the transaction.
<PAGE>


         (l) As of the date of the  transaction,  the fair  market  value of the
Acquiring  Fund  Shares  issued to Acquired  Fund in exchange  for the assets of
Acquired Fund is  approximately  equal to the fair market value of the assets of
Acquired Fund received by Acquiring  Fund,  minus the Acquired Fund  Liabilities
assumed by Acquiring Fund.  Acquiring Fund will not furnish any consideration in
connection  with the  acquisition  of  Acquired  Fund's  assets  other  than the
assumption  of  these  Acquired  Fund  Liabilities  and the  issuance  of  these
Acquiring Fund Shares.

         (m)  Acquired  Fund  shareholders  will not be in control  (within  the
meaning of Sections  368(a)(2)(H)  and 304(c) of the Code,  which  provide  that
control  means  the  ownership  of shares  possessing  at least 50% of the total
combined  voting  power of all classes of shares that are entitled to vote or at
least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes) of  Acquiring  Fund after
the transaction.

         (n) The principal  business  purposes of the transaction are to combine
the  assets  of  Acquiring  Fund and  Acquired  Fund in order to  capitalize  on
economies  of scale in  expenses,  including  the  costs of  accounting,  legal,
transfer agency, insurance, custodial, and administrative services, to eliminate
adverse effects on the marketing and asset growth of Acquiring Fund and Acquired
Fund that may result from the  existence of competing  funds with  substantially
similar investment characteristics within the same fund complex, to benefit from
the  anticipated   better   performance  of  Acquiring  Fund,  and  to  increase
diversification.

         (o) As of the date of the  transaction,  the fair  market  value of the
Class A Acquiring Fund Shares  received by each  shareholder  that holds Class A
Acquired  Fund Shares is  approximately  equal to the fair  market  value of the
Class A Acquired Fund Shares  surrendered by such  shareholder,  the fair market
value of the Class B Acquiring  Fund Shares  received by each  shareholder  that
holds  Class B Acquired  Fund Shares is  approximately  equal to the fair market
value of the Class B Acquired Fund Shares  surrendered by such shareholder,  the
fair  market  value  of the  Class C  Acquiring  Fund  Shares  received  by each
shareholder  that holds Class C Acquired Fund Shares is  approximately  equal to
the fair market value of the Class C Acquired  Fund Shares  surrendered  by such
shareholder  and the fair  market  value of the Class I  Acquiring  Fund  shares
received  by each  shareholder  that  holds  Class Y  Acquired  Fund  Shares  is
approximately equal to the fair market value of the Class Y Acquired Fund Shares
surrendered  by such  shareholder.  No property other than Acquiring Fund Shares
will be  distributed  to  shareholders  of Acquired  Fund in exchange  for their
Acquired  Fund  Shares,  nor  will any such  shareholder  receive  cash or other
property as part of the transaction.
<PAGE>


         (p) There is no plan or  intention  on the part of any  shareholder  of
Acquired Fund that owns beneficially 5% or more of the Acquired Fund Shares and,
to the best  knowledge  of  management  of  Acquired  Fund,  there is no plan or
intention  on the  part of the  remaining  shareholders  of  Acquired  Fund,  in
connection  with the  transaction,  to engage in any  transaction  with Acquired
Fund,  Acquiring  Fund,  or any person  treated as related to  Acquired  Fund or
Acquiring  Fund under the  standards  made  applicable  by  Treasury  Regulation
Section  1.368-1(e)(1)(i)  involving the sale, redemption,  exchange,  transfer,
pledge, or other  disposition  resulting in a direct or indirect transfer of the
risks of ownership  (a "Sale") of any of the Acquired  Fund Shares or any of the
Acquiring Fund Shares to be received in the  transaction  that,  considering all
Sales,  would reduce the  aggregate  ownership of the  Acquiring  Fund Shares by
former  Acquired Fund  shareholders  to a number of shares having a value, as of
the date of the  transaction,  of less than fifty  percent (50%) of the value of
all of the formerly  outstanding  Acquired Fund Shares as of the same date.  All
Sales involving shares of Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund held by Acquired Fund
shareholders that have occurred or will occur in connection with the transaction
are taken into account for purposes of this representation. No such Sale that is
in connection with the transaction  has, to the best knowledge of the management
of Acquired Fund, occurred on or prior to the date of the transaction.

         (q) Acquired  Fund assets  transferred  to Acquiring  Fund  comprise at
least  ninety  percent  (90%) of the fair market  value of the net assets and at
least seventy percent (70%) of the fair market value of the gross assets held by
Acquired  Fund  immediately  prior  to the  transaction.  For  purposes  of this
representation,   amounts  used  by  Acquired   Fund  to  pay  its   outstanding
liabilities,   including   reorganization  expenses,  and  all  redemptions  and
distributions  (except for  redemptions in the ordinary  course of business upon
demand of a  shareholder  that  Acquired Fund is required to make as an open-end
investment company pursuant to Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and regular, normal
dividends,   which  dividends  include  any  final  distribution  of  previously
undistributed  investment  company  taxable  income  and net  capital  gain  for
Acquired Fund's final taxable year ending on the date of the  transaction)  made
by Acquired Fund immediately preceding the transaction are taken into account as
assets of Acquired Fund held immediately prior to the transaction.

         (r) The Acquired Fund  Liabilities  assumed by Acquiring  Fund plus the
liabilities,  if any, to which the transferred  assets are subject were incurred
by Acquired  Fund in the ordinary  course of its business or are expenses of the
transaction.
<PAGE>


         (s) The fair market value of the Acquired  Fund assets  transferred  to
Acquiring  Fund  equals or  exceeds  the sum of the  Acquired  Fund  Liabilities
assumed by Acquiring  Fund and the amount of  liabilities,  if any, to which the
transferred assets are subject.

         (t)    Acquired    Fund    does   not   pay    compensation    to   any
shareholder-employee.

                                     OPINION

         On the basis of and subject to the  foregoing  and in reliance upon the
representations described above, we are of the opinion that:

         (a) The  acquisition by Acquiring Fund of all of the assets of Acquired
Fund solely in exchange for the  issuance of  Acquiring  Fund Shares to Acquired
Fund and the  assumption  of all of the Acquired Fund  Liabilities  by Acquiring
Fund,  followed by the distribution by Acquired Fund, in liquidation of Acquired
Fund,  of Acquiring  Fund Shares to Acquired Fund  shareholders  in exchange for
their Acquired Fund Shares and the termination of Acquired Fund, will constitute
a "reorganization"  within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.  Acquiring
Fund and  Acquired  Fund will each be "a party to a  reorganization"  within the
meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.

         (b) No gain or loss will be  recognized  by Acquired  Fund upon (i) the
transfer  of all of its assets to  Acquiring  Fund  solely in  exchange  for the
issuance of Acquiring  Fund Shares to Acquired Fund and the assumption of all of
the Acquired Fund  Liabilities  by Acquiring Fund and (ii) the  distribution  by
Acquired Fund of such Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of Acquired Fund
(Sections 361(a) and 361(c) of the Code).

         (c) No gain or loss  will be  recognized  by  Acquiring  Fund  upon the
receipt of the assets of Acquired  Fund solely in exchange  for the  issuance of
Acquiring Fund Shares to Acquired Fund and the assumption of all of the Acquired
Fund Liabilities by Acquiring Fund (Section 1032(a) of the Code).

         (d) The basis of the assets of Acquired Fund acquired by Acquiring Fund
will be, in each instance, the same as the basis of those assets in the hands of
Acquired Fund immediately prior to the transfer (Section 362(b) of the Code).
<PAGE>



         (e) The tax holding  period of the assets of Acquired Fund in the hands
of Acquiring Fund will, in each instance,  include  Acquired  Fund's tax holding
period for those assets (Section 1223(2) of the Code).

         (f) The  shareholders  of Acquired Fund will not recognize gain or loss
upon the exchange of all of their Acquired Fund Shares solely for Acquiring Fund
Shares as part of the transaction (Section 354(a)(1) of the Code).

         (g) The basis of the  Acquiring  Fund Shares  received by the  Acquired
Fund  shareholders  in the  transaction  will be the  same as the  basis  of the
Acquired Fund Shares  surrendered in exchange therefor (Section 358(a)(1) of the
Code).

         (h) The tax holding  period of the  Acquiring  Fund Shares  received by
Acquired Fund shareholders will include,  for each shareholder,  the tax holding
period for the Acquired Fund Shares surrendered in exchange  therefor,  provided
that the  Acquired  Fund Shares  were held as capital  assets on the date of the
exchange (Section 1223(1) of the Code).

         No opinion is expressed  or implied  regarding  the federal  income tax
consequences to Acquiring Fund,  Acquired Fund or Acquired Fund  shareholders of
any conditions existing at the time of, effects resulting from, or other aspects
of the transaction  except as expressly set forth above. This opinion may not be
relied upon  except  with  respect to the  consequences  specifically  discussed
herein  nor may it be  relied  upon by  persons  or  entities  to whom it is not
addressed, other than with our prior written consent.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            /s/Hale and Dorr LLP
                                            --------------------
                                            Hale and Dorr LLP



<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of
this post-effective amendment No. 1 ("PEA no. 1") to the Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 485 (b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has caused this
PEA No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the
5th day of January, 2000.

                                                       JOHN HANCOCK SERIES TRUST
                                                    By:       *
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Stephen L. Brown
                                                    Chairman

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registration has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated.

     Signature                         Title                         Date
     ---------                         -----                         ----

__________*____________
Stephen L. Brown              Trustee and Chairman
                              (Principal Executive Oficer)

__________*_____________
Maureen R. Ford               Trustee, Vice Chairman
                              and Chief Executive Officer

__________*_____________
Osbort M. Hood                Executive Vice President and
                              Chief Financial Officer

- ------------------------
James J. Stokowski            Vice President                     January 5, 2000
                              (Principal Accounting Officer)


         *                    Trustee
- ------------------------
James F. Carlin


         *                    Trustee
- ------------------------
William H. Cunningham


         *                    Trustee
- ------------------------
Ronald R. Dion


         *                    Trustee
- ------------------------
Anne C. Hodsdon

<PAGE>



_________*______________      Trustee
Charles L. Ladner


_________*_______________
Steven R. Pruchansky          Trustee


________*________________
Norman H. Smith               Trustee


_________*_______________
Richard S. Scipione           Trustee


_________*_______________
John P. Toolan                Trustee


By:  ___________________                                        January 5, 2000
     Susan S. Newton,
     Attorney-in-Fact under
     Powers of Attorney dated
     December 7, 1999


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   <S>                                                               <C>

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund                  John Hancock Patriot Global Dividend Fund
John Hancock Bond Trust                                        John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund
John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund                   John Hancock Patriot Premium Dividend Fund I
John Hancock Cash Reserve, Inc.                                John Hancock Patriot Premium Dividend Fund II
John Hancock Current Interest                                  John Hancock Patriot Select Dividend Trust
John Hancock Institutional Series Trust                        John Hancock Series Trust
John Hancock Investment Trust                                  John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Trust


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         The undersigned Trustee/Director/Officer of each of the above listed
Trusts, each a Massachusetts business trust, and Corporations, each a Maryland
Corporation, does hereby severally constitute and appoint Susan S. Newton and
James j. stokowski, and each acting singly, to be my true, sufficient and lawful
attorneys, with full power to each of them, and each acting singly, to sign for
me, in my name and in the capacity indicated below, any Registration Statement
on Form N-1A and any Registration Statement on Form N-14 to be filed by the
Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and any and all
amendments to said Registration Statements, with respect to the offering of
shares and any and all other documents and papers relating thereto, and
generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in the capacity
indicated to enable the Trust to comply with the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, and
all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, hereby
ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said attorneys or
each of them to any such Registration Statements and any and all amendments
thereto.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have hereunder set my hand on this Instrument as
of the 7th day of December, 1999.


/s/ Stephen L. Brown                                                 /s/ Osbert M. Hood
- --------------------                                                 ------------------
Stephen L. Brown, as Trustee and Chairman                            Osbert M. Hood, as Chief Financial Officer

/s/Maureen R. Ford                                                   /s/Charles L. Ladner
- ------------------                                                   --------------------
Maureen R. Ford, as Trustee,                                         Charles L. Ladner
Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

/s/James F. Carlin                                                   /s/Steven R. Pruchansky
- ------------------                                                   -----------------------
James F. Carlin                                                      Steven R. Pruchansky

/s/William H. Cunningham                                             /s/Richard S. Scipione
- ------------------------                                             ----------------------
William H. Cunningham                                                Richard S. Scipione

/s/Ronald R. Dion                                                    /s/Norman H. Smith
- -----------------                                                    ------------------
Ronald R. Dion                                                       Norman H. Smith

/s/Harold R. Hiser, Jr.                                              /s/ John P. Toolan
- -----------------------                                              ------------------
Harold R. Hiser, Jr.                                                 John P. Toolan

/s/ Anne C. Hodsdon
- -------------------
Anne C. Hodsdon, as Trustee and President
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


         The Declaration of Trust, a copy of which, together with all amendments
thereto, is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the
Trust or any Series thereof shall be subject to any personal liability
whatsoever to any Person, other than to the Trust or its shareholders, in
connection with Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust, save only that
arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of his/her duties with respect to such Person; and all such Persons
shall look solely to the Trust Property, or to the Trust Property of one or more
specific Series of the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such
Trustee, officer, employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for
satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of
the Trust.


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS )
                              )ss
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK             )

         Then personally appeared the above-named Stephen L. Brown, Maureen L.
Ford, James F. Carlin, William H. Cunningham, Ronald R. Dion, Harold R. Hiser,
Jr., Anne C. Hodsdon, Osbert M. Hood, Charles L. Ladner, Leo E. Linbeck, Jr.,
Steven R. Pruchansky, Richard S. Scipione, Norman H. Smith, and John P. Toolan,
who acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his or her free act and deed,
before me, this 7th day of December, 1999.

                                             /s/Ann Marie White
                                             ------------------
                                             Notary Public

                                             My Commission Expires:  10/20/00





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