HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND
NSAR-A, 1999-04-22
Previous: SATURNA INVESTMENT TRUST, 497, 1999-04-22
Next: ALLIANCE PORTFOLIOS, N-30D, 1999-04-22



<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 02/28/99
000 C000000 0000811921
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
001 B000000 811-5079
001 C000000 6173751702
002 A000000 101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02199
002 D020000 7603
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  2
007 C010100  1
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 JOHN HANCOCK NEW YORK TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8124
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02199
008 D04AA01 7603
011 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-43582
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02199
011 C04AA01 7603
012 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK SIGNATURE SERVICES, INC.
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
012 B00AA01 84-1885
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02199
013 A00AA01 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02110
014 A00AA01 SIGNATOR INVESTORS, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-13995
014 A00AA02 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-43582
015 A00AA01 INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02111
015 E01AA01 X
018  00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00   68
019 C00AA00 JOHNHANCOC
020 A000001 BEAR STEARNS
020 B000001 13-2975144
020 C000001      7
020 C000002      0
020 C000003      0
020 C000004      0
020 C000005      0
020 C000006      0
020 C000007      0
020 C000008      0
020 C000009      0
020 C000010      0
021  000000        7
022 A000001 WILLIAM E. SIMONS & SONS
022 B000001 22-3017217
022 C000001      5394
022 D000001      4165
022 A000002 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000002 22-2347336
022 C000002      1113
022 D000002      5400
022 A000003 FIDELITY CAP MARKETS
022 C000003       775
022 D000003      2050
022 A000004 FIRST ALBANY CORP.
022 B000004 14-1391446
022 C000004       646
022 D000004      2140
022 A000005 LEHMAN BROTHERS
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
022 B000005 13-2726611
022 C000005      2681
022 D000005         0
022 A000006 TUCKER ANTHONY
022 C000006      2082
022 D000006         0
022 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
022 B000007 13-2655998
022 C000007      1525
022 D000007       528
022 A000008 BEAR STEARNS & CO.
022 B000008 13-2975144
022 C000008      1966
022 D000008         0
022 A000009 OPPENHEIMER & CO.
022 C000009         0
022 D000009      1093
022 A000010 SALOMON BROTHERS
022 B000010 13-3082694
022 C000010      1031
022 D000010         0
023 C000000      22489
023 D000000      16483
024  00AA00 N
025 D00AA01       0
025 D00AA02       0
025 D00AA03       0
025 D00AA04       0
025 D00AA05       0
025 D00AA06       0
025 D00AA07       0
025 D00AA08       0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027  000000 Y
037  00AA00 N
038  00AA00      0
039  00AA00 Y
040  00AA00 Y
041  00AA00 Y
045  00AA00 Y
046  00AA00 N
047  00AA00 Y
048  00AA00  0.000
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
048 A01AA00   250000
048 A02AA00 0.500
048 B01AA00   250000
048 B02AA00 0.450
048 C01AA00   500000
048 C02AA00 0.425
048 D01AA00   250000
048 D02AA00 0.400
048 E01AA00        0
048 E02AA00 0.000
048 F01AA00        0
048 F02AA00 0.000
048 G01AA00        0
048 G02AA00 0.000
048 H01AA00        0
048 H02AA00 0.000
048 I01AA00        0
048 I02AA00 0.000
048 J01AA00        0
048 J02AA00 0.000
048 K01AA00  1250000
048 K02AA00 0.300
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 N
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 Y
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056  00AA00 Y
057  00AA00 N
066 A00AA00 N
067  00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069  00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 N
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078  000000 N
028 A010200      1288
028 A020200       189
028 A030200         0
028 A040200       885
028 B010200      1259
028 B020200       172
028 B030200         0
028 B040200       282
028 C010200      1066
028 C020200       173
028 C030200         0
028 C040200       313
028 D010200      1404
028 D020200       204
028 D030200         0
028 D040200       577
028 E010200      2460
028 E020200       169
028 E030200         0
028 E040200       951
028 F010200      1247
028 F020200       188
028 F030200         0
028 F040200       723
028 G010200      8724
028 G020200      1095
028 G030200         0
028 G040200      3731
028 H000200      4353
029  000200 Y
030 A000200    123
030 B000200  4.50
030 C000200  0.00
031 A000200     14
031 B000200      0
032  000200     68
<PAGE>      PAGE  6
033  000200     41
034  000200 Y
035  000200      5
036 A000200 Y
036 B000200      0
042 A000200   0
042 B000200   0
042 C000200 100
042 D000200   0
042 E000200   0
042 F000200   0
042 G000200   0
042 H000200   0
043  000200    128
044  000200    220
049  000200 N
050  000200 N
051  000200 N
052  000200 N
053 A000200 Y
053 B000200 Y
053 C000200 N
058 A000200 N
059  000200 Y
060 A000200 Y
060 B000200 Y
061  000200     1000
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200   0.0
062 C000200   0.0
062 D000200   0.0
062 E000200   0.0
062 F000200   0.0
062 G000200   0.0
062 H000200   0.0
062 I000200   0.0
062 J000200   0.0
062 K000200   0.0
062 L000200   0.0
062 M000200   0.0
062 N000200   0.0
062 O000200  96.0
062 P000200   0.0
062 Q000200   4.0
062 R000200   0.0
063 A000200   0
063 B000200 18.6
064 A000200 N
064 B000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  7
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 Y
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 Y
070 E020200 Y
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 Y
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 Y
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 N
070 L020200 N
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 N
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200      6614
071 B000200      2828
071 C000200     66077
071 D000200    4
072 A000200  6
072 B000200     1955
072 C000200        0
072 D000200        0
072 E000200        0
072 F000200      166
072 G000200        5
072 H000200        0
072 I000200       33
072 J000200       26
072 K000200        0
072 L000200        5
072 M000200        2
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
072 N000200        4
072 O000200        0
072 P000200        0
072 Q000200        0
072 R000200       11
072 S000200        1
072 T000200      128
072 U000200        0
072 V000200        0
072 W000200        0
072 X000200      381
072 Y000200      120
072 Z000200     1694
072AA000200       36
072BB000200        0
072CC010200        0
072CC020200      439
072DD010200     1517
072DD020200      177
072EE000200        0
073 A010200   0.3235
073 A020200   0.2795
073 B000200   0.0000
073 C000200   0.0000
074 A000200     1563
074 B000200        0
074 C000200        0
074 D000200    67238
074 E000200        0
074 F000200        0
074 G000200        0
074 H000200        0
074 I000200        0
074 J000200       71
074 K000200        0
074 L000200     1180
074 M000200       43
074 N000200    70095
074 O000200       26
074 P000200       26
074 Q000200        0
074 R010200        0
074 R020200        0
074 R030200        0
074 R040200       24
074 S000200        0
074 T000200    70019
074 U010200     4796
074 U020200      792
074 V010200    12.53
074 V020200    12.53
<PAGE>      PAGE  9
074 W000200   0.0000
074 X000200     2212
074 Y000200        0
075 A000200        0
075 B000200    67106
076  000200     0.00
028 A010300      1524
028 A020300       186
028 A030300         0
028 A040300       204
028 B010300      1157
028 B020300       164
028 B030300         0
028 B040300       811
028 C010300       810
028 C020300       168
028 C030300         0
028 C040300       597
028 D010300      1142
028 D020300       604
028 D030300         0
028 D040300       849
028 E010300       450
028 E020300       156
028 E030300         0
028 E040300      1626
028 F010300       726
028 F020300       172
028 F030300         0
028 F040300       389
028 G010300      5809
028 G020300      1450
028 G030300         0
028 G040300      4476
028 H000300      2022
029  000300 Y
030 A000300     69
030 B000300  4.50
030 C000300  0.00
031 A000300      8
031 B000300      0
032  000300     43
033  000300     18
034  000300 Y
035  000300      4
036 A000300 Y
036 B000300      0
042 A000300   0
042 B000300   0
042 C000300 100
042 D000300   0
<PAGE>      PAGE  10
042 E000300   0
042 F000300   0
042 G000300   0
042 H000300   0
043  000300    116
044  000300    252
049  000300 N
050  000300 N
051  000300 N
052  000300 N
053 A000300 Y
053 B000300 Y
053 C000300 N
058 A000300 N
059  000300 Y
060 A000300 N
060 B000300 N
061  000300     1000
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300   0.0
062 C000300   0.0
062 D000300   0.0
062 E000300   0.0
062 F000300   0.0
062 G000300   0.0
062 H000300   0.0
062 I000300   0.0
062 J000300   0.0
062 K000300   0.0
062 L000300   0.0
062 M000300   0.0
062 N000300   0.0
062 O000300 100.0
062 P000300   0.0
062 Q000300   0.0
062 R000300   0.0
063 A000300   0
063 B000300 19.4
064 A000300 N
064 B000300 N
070 A010300 Y
070 A020300 N
070 B010300 N
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 Y
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 Y
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 Y
070 E020300 Y
070 F010300 Y
<PAGE>      PAGE  11
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 Y
070 G020300 Y
070 H010300 Y
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 Y
070 J020300 N
070 K010300 Y
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 N
070 L020300 N
070 M010300 N
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 Y
070 N020300 N
070 O010300 N
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 Y
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 N
070 Q020300 N
070 R010300 N
070 R020300 N
071 A000300     18526
071 B000300     17115
071 C000300     60004
071 D000300   29
072 A000300  6
072 B000300     1723
072 C000300        0
072 D000300        0
072 E000300        0
072 F000300      149
072 G000300        4
072 H000300        0
072 I000300       32
072 J000300       25
072 K000300        0
072 L000300        5
072 M000300        1
072 N000300        3
072 O000300        0
072 P000300        0
072 Q000300        0
072 R000300       10
072 S000300        1
072 T000300      116
072 U000300        0
072 V000300        0
<PAGE>      PAGE  12
072 W000300        1
072 X000300      347
072 Y000300      112
072 Z000300     1488
072AA000300      460
072BB000300        0
072CC010300        0
072CC020300      747
072DD010300     1322
072DD020300      166
072EE000300      548
073 A010300   0.3169
073 A020300   0.2732
073 B000300   0.1139
073 C000300   0.0000
074 A000300     1640
074 B000300        0
074 C000300        0
074 D000300    59966
074 E000300        0
074 F000300        0
074 G000300        0
074 H000300        0
074 I000300        0
074 J000300     1007
074 K000300        0
074 L000300      821
074 M000300       23
074 N000300    63457
074 O000300     3256
074 P000300        3
074 Q000300        0
074 R010300        0
074 R020300        0
074 R030300        0
074 R040300       53
074 S000300        0
074 T000300    60145
074 U010300     4183
074 U020300      648
074 V010300    12.45
074 V020300    12.45
074 W000300   0.0000
074 X000300     2059
074 Y000300     2394
075 A000300        0
075 B000300    60163
076  000300     0.00
SIGNATURE   SUSAN S. NEWTON                              
TITLE       VICE PRESIDENT      
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       62,095,093
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      67,237,777
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,250,883
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  43,443
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                         1,563,172
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              70,095,275
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       76,509
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             76,509
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    65,168,967
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,795,560
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,613,097
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,838
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (255,367)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     5,102,328
<NET-ASSETS>                                70,018,766
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,954,542
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 260,609
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,693,933
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        36,264
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (439,167)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,291,030
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,517,027
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        378,925
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    274,676
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             78,214
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       5,685,139
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2,838
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (291,631)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          166,973
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                380,605
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        59,134,471
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.60
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.32
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.32)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.53
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 022
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS B
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       62,095,093
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      67,237,777
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,250,883
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  43,443
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                         1,563,172
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              70,095,275
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       76,509
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             76,509
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    65,168,967
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          791,827
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          491,696
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,838
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (255,367)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     5,102,328
<NET-ASSETS>                                70,018,766
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,954,542
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 260,609
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,693,933
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        36,264
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (439,167)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,291,030
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      176,906
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        312,703
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     21,229
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              8,657
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       5,685,139
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2,838
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (291,631)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          166,973
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                380,605
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         7,971,126
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.60
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.53
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.41
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK NEW YORK TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       55,699,891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      59,965,659
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,827,454
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               1,663,767
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              63,456,880
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     3,255,778
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       56,172
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,311,950
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    55,834,654
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,182,535
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,148,992
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       15,483
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         28,609
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     4,266,184
<NET-ASSETS>                                60,144,930
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,723,354
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 235,424
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,487,930
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       460,111
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (747,113)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,200,928
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,321,856
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       473,690
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        175,816
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    248,520
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            106,247
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       1,948,171
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         15,483
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      116,757
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          149,171
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                347,873
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        52,504,780
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.62
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.32
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.32)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.11)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 032
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK NEW YORK TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS B
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-28-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       55,699,891
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      59,965,659
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,827,454
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               1,663,767
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              63,456,880
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     3,255,778
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       56,172
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,311,950
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    55,834,654
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          648,182
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          461,375
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       15,483
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         28,609
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     4,266,184
<NET-ASSETS>                                60,144,930
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,723,354
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 235,424
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,487,930
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       460,111
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (747,113)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        1,200,928
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      166,074
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        74,569
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        284,844
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    107,463
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              9,426
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       1,948,171
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         15,483
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      116,757
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          149,171
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                347,873
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         7,658,292
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.62
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.27)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.11)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.45
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission