John Hancock Disciplined Growth Fund
John Hancock Discovery Fund
John Hancock Emerging Growth Fund
John Hancock Growth Fund
John Hancock Regional Bank Fund
John Hancock Special Equities Fund
John Hancock Special Opportunities Fund
(together, the "Funds")
Supplement to Class A and B Prospectus, effective July 1, 1996
(to be distributed to investors in the State of Maryland)
The Funds' investment objectives and primary investment policies are described
from page 4 to page 17 of the prospectus. The Funds may also use additional
investment practices which have specific risks associated with them.
Particularly, please note:
o The Funds may engage in transactions in some or all of the following
derivative instruments: financial futures and related options, securities
and index options and currency contracts. The risks associated with their
use include: interest rate risk, currency risk, market risk, hedged or
speculative leverage risk, correlation risk, liquidity risk, credit risk
and opportunity risk.
o John Hancock Emerging Growth Fund may invest up to 10% of total assets in
non-investment grade convertible securities ("convertibles"), which are
debt securities that can be converted into equity securities at a future
time. Convertibles rated below BBB/Baa are considered "junk" bonds. The
risks associated with their use include: credit risk, valuation and
information risk, interest rate risk, market risk and liquidity risk.
These instruments and other "higher-risk securities and practices" are described
on page 29 of the prospectus. The risks associated with these instruments are
defined under the heading "Types of Investment Risk" on page 28 of the
prospectus.
July 1, 1996
GRMDS
