JOHN HANCOCK PACIFIC BASIN EQUITIES FUND
Supplement to Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
dated January 1, 1996
On May 21, 1996, the Trustees of the Fund approved the terms of a new
sub-advisory agreement between John Hancock Advisers, Inc. and Indosuez Asia
Advisers, Limited ("Indosuez"). The terms of the new agreement are identical to
the terms of the existing agreement, but under the Investment Company Act of
1940, a shareholder vote is required whenever there is a change of control of a
sub-advisor. In this case, the transfer of 51% of the shares of Banque Indosuez,
an indirect parent company of Indosuez, to Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole,
constitutes a change of control.
The agreement will be implemented only if it is approved by the Fund's
shareholders at a meeting currently scheduled to occur on or about June 26,
1996. If approved by the shareholders, the new agreement would take effect on
July 1, 1996. More detailed information about the proposal will be included in a
proxy statement to be mailed on or about May 29, 1996.
May 28, 1996
The discussion of who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund
contained in the "Organization and Management of the Fund" section is replaced
with the following:
David S. Beckwith, John L. F. Wills and Marian Li are primarily responsible for
the management of the Fund . Mr. Beckwith, a Vice President, joined the Adviser
in 1992 and prior to that was associated with Freedom Capital Management, an
affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Wills is managing director of John Hancock
Advisers International Limited and has been associated with John Hancock
Advisers, Inc. since 1987. Marian Li joined Indosuez Asset Management Asia, the
Fund's Sub-Adviser, in 1993. In 1989 Ms. Li joined Standard Chartered Equitor
Asset Management as Investment Director, and continued in that position when the
company was acquired by Capital House in 1992.
April 10, 1996
5800S 5/96
