EDGAR
December 30, 1998
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Filing Pursuant to Rule 497(j)
John Hancock Tax Exempt Series Trust
John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund
John Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund
File Nos. 33-12974; 811-5079
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, 1999 and Statement of Additional Information dated
January 1, 1999 for the above-captioned registrant 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 the most recent
registration statement that has been filed electronically.
Sincerely,
/s/Joan O'Neill
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Joan O'Neill
