JOHN HANCOCK PACIFIC BASIN EQUITIES FUND
Supplement to Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information
dated January 1, 1996
The Shareholders 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 new agreement was effective as of July 1, 1996.
July 18, 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 7/96
