JOHN HANCOCK PACIFIC BASIN EQUITIES FUND
Supplement to Class A and Class B Shares Prospectus dated January 1, 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.
5800S-4-96
April 10, 1996
