HANCOCK JOHN INVESTMENT TRUST IV
497, 1997-05-29
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                               John Hancock Funds


                Supplement to Statement of Additional Information


The "INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A SHARES" section is  supplemented  under the
heading "Without Sales Charge" by adding:

     o    Retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch servicing programs, if
          the Plan has more than $3 million in assets or 500 eligible  employees
          at the date the Plan  Sponsor  signs the Merrill  Lynch  Recordkeeping
          Service  Agreement.  See your Merrill Lynch  financial  consultant for
          further information.

The "INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A AND CLASS B SHARES" section is supplemented
under the heading "Without Sales Charge" by adding:

     o    For  retirement  plans  participating  in  Merrill  Lynch's  servicing
          programs,  Class A shares  are not  available  at net asset  value for
          Plans with less than $3 million or 500 eligible  employees at the date
          the  Plan  Sponsor  signs  the  Merrill  Lynch  Recordkeeping  Service
          Agreement.  Class B  shares  are  available.  See your  Merrill  Lynch
          financial consultant for further information.

The "DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES" section is supplemented  under the
heading "Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" by adding:

     o    Retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch servicing programs, if
          the Plan has more than $3 million in assets or 500 eligible  employees
          at the date the Plan  Sponsor  signs the Merrill  Lynch  Recordkeeping
          Service  Agreement.  See your Merrill Lynch  financial  consultant for
          further information.

The "DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES" section is supplemented  under the
heading "For Retirement Accounts" by adding:

     o    For  retirement  plans  participating  in  Merrill  Lynch's  servicing
          programs that are investing in Class B shares,  shares will convert to
          Class A shares after eight years,  (5 years for  Short-Term  Strategic
          Income Fund,  Intermediate  Maturity Fund and Limited-Term  Government
          Fund) or sooner if the plan attains  assets of $5 million (by means of
          a CDSC-free redemption/purchase at net asset value).

<PAGE>

The "ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS" section is supplemented as follows:

          Retirement plans  participating in Merrill Lynch's servicing programs:
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------

          Class A shares  are  available  at net asset  value for plans  with $3
          million in plan assets or 500 eligible  employees at the date the Plan
          Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch  Recordkeeping  Service Agreement.  If
          the plan does not meet either of these limits,  Class A shares are not
          available.

          For participating retirement plans investing in Class B shares, shares
          will  convert to Class A shares  after eight  years,  or sooner if the
          plan   attains   assets  of  $5  million  (by  means  of  a  CDSC-free
          redemption/purchase at net asset value).



6/1/97
MF2SS 6/97



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