HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND, 497J, 1998-01-06

HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND
497J, 1998-01-06

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January 5, 1998


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

Re:      John Hancock Tax-Free Funds
         John Hancock Tax-Exempt Series
         John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund
         John Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund
         File Nos. 811-5079; 33-12947

         CERTIFICATE UNDER RULE 497(j)

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 and Statement of Additional Information dated January 1, 1998 for the
above-captioned  registrants  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  most  recent  registration
statement has been filed electronically.

Sincerely,


/s/ Joan O'Neill


Joan O'Neill