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SIGNATURE SUSAN S. NEWTON
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
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<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 167,340,311
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13,620,174
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 13,946,914
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 9,567
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (11,336,051)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-ASSETS> 172,222,006
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
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<EXPENSES-NET> 2,720,398
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8,691,204
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (554,208)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,172,597
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 14,309,593
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6,610,696
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,165,723
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3,693,711
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 228,203
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 637,532
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.47)
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</TABLE>
