HANCOCK JOHN SPECIAL EQUITIES FUND, 497J, 1998-03-05

HANCOCK JOHN SPECIAL EQUITIES FUND
497J, 1998-03-05

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March 3, 1998



U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Re:  John Hancock Special Equities Fund
         John Hancock Special Equities Fund
       File Nos. 811-4079; 2-92548

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to 497(j) of Regulation C, under the Securities Act of 1933, in lieu of
filing under paragraph (b) or (c) of Rule 497, I hereby certify that the form of
Prospectus  dated March 1, 1998 and  Statement of Additional  Information  dated
March 1, 1998 for the  above-captioned  registrant  that  would  have been filed
under paragraph (b) or (c) of Rule 497(j) does not differ from that contained in
the most recent registration statement amendment and the text of the most recent
registration statement that has been filed electronically.

                                                     Sincerely,


                                                     /s/Joan O'Neill
                                                     Joan O'Neill