EDGAR
January 6, 1997
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: John Hancock Tax-Exempt Series Fund, File Nos. 811-5079; 33-12947
John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund and John Hancock New
York Tax-Free Income Fund
Filing of Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information under
Rule 497(j) and 497(c)
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 January 1, 1997 for the Registrant that would have been
filed under paragraph (b) or (c) of Rule 497(j) do not differ from that
contained in the most recent registration statement amendment and the text of
the most recent registration statement has been filed electronically.
Pursuant to 497(c) attached for filing with the Commission is the Statement
of Additional Information for the following of the Registrant, John Hancock
Tax-Exempt Series Fund, John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund and John
Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund.
Sincerely,
/s/ Marilyn Lutzer
Marilyn Lutzer
