BnkNThrOp_NCSR.htm
UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D.C. 20549 

FORM N-CSR
 
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED 
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES 

Investment Company Act file number
811- 8568 

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 

601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210
 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) 

Alfred P. Ouellette
 
Senior Attorney and Assistant Secretary 
601 Congress Street 
Boston, Massachusetts 02210 
(Name and address of agent for service) 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
617-663-4324 
Date of fiscal year end:  October 31 
 
Date of reporting period:  October 31, 2005 
 
ITEM 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS. 







Table of contents
 

Your fund at a glance 
page 1 

Managers’ report 
page 2 

Fund’s investments 
page 6 

Financial statements 
page 11 

Trustees & officers 
page 27 

For more information 
page 33 


To Our Shareholders,

I am pleased to be writing to you as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of John Hancock Funds, LLC, following the departure of James A. Shepherdson to pursue other opportunities. In addition, on July 25, 2005, your fund’s Board of Trustees appointed me to the roles of President and Chief Executive Officer of your fund.

As a means of introduction, I have been involved in the mutual fund industry since 1985. I have been with John Hancock Funds for the last 15 years, most recently as executive vice president of retail sales and marketing and a member of the company’s executive and investment committees. In my former capacity, I was responsible for all aspects of the distribution and marketing of John Hancock Funds’ open-end and closed-end funds. Outside of John Hancock, I have served as Chairman of the Investment Company Institute (ICI) Sales Force Marketing Committee since September 2003.

It is an exciting time to be at John Hancock Funds, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and shape its future growth. With the acquisition of John Hancock by Manulife Financial Corporation in April 2004, we are receiving broad support toward the goal of providing our shareholders with excellent investment opportunities and a more complete lineup of choices for the discerning investor.

For one example, we have recently added five “Lifestyle Portfolio” funds-of-funds that blend multiple fund offerings from internal and external money managers to create a broadly diversified asset allocation portfolio. Look for more information about these exciting additions to the John Hancock family of funds in the near future.

Although there has been a change in executive-level management, rest assured that the one thing that never wavers is John Hancock Funds’ commitment to placing the needs of shareholders above all else. We are all dedicated to the task of working with you and your financial advisors to help you reach your long-term financial goals.

Sincerely,


Keith F. Hartstein,
President and Chief Executive Officer

This commentary reflects the CEO’s views as of October 31, 2005. They are subject to change at any time.


YOUR FUND
AT A GLANCE

The Fund seeks
long-term capital
appreciation with
moderate income
as a secondary
objective by nor-
mally investing at
least 80% of its
assets in stocks of
regional banks and
lending companies,
including commer-
cial and industrial
banks, savings
and loan associa-
tions and bank
holding companies.

Over the last twelve months


Top 10 holdings

3.1%  Wachovia Corp. 
2.9%  Compass Bancshares, Inc. 
2.9%  U.S. Bancorp. 
2.9%  M&T Bank Corp. 
2.9%  PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. 
2.8%  Marshall & Ilsley Corp. 
2.8%  SunTrust Banks, Inc. 
2.7%  Wells Fargo & Co. 
2.7%  Comerica, Inc. 
2.5%  North Fork Bancorp., Inc. 
As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2005. 

1


BY JAMES K. SCHMIDT, CFA, LISA A. WELCH AND THOMAS M. FINUCANE,
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

MANAGERS’
REPORT

JOHN HANCOCK
Bank and Thrift
Opportunity Fund

The stock market advanced in a choppy fashion over the last 12 months, buffeted by rising short-term interest rates, mixed, but basically solid, economic data and oil prices that rose to historic highs. Throughout the period, investors struggled with concerns that rising rates and energy costs would spark inflation, stall economic growth and hurt corporate profits. The period began in the midst of a strong rally in the fourth quarter of 2004 and became more dicey in 2005 as investors grew increasingly wary. But largely with the strength of the market’s rally in November and December 2004, and brief rallies in the summer on better-than-expected corporate earnings, the market managed to produce a decent return for the period. For the 12 months ending October 31, 2005, the broad market, as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index returned 8.72% .

Financial stocks as a group kept pace with the broad market, as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Financial Index returned 8.99% . The gains were based primarily on the strength of the investment bankers, asset managers and trust and custody banks. They benefited from the resilient markets that were fertile ground for increased merger and acquisitions activity and debt and equity issuance. Banks were the laggards in an interest rate environment that saw short-term rates rise at the hands of the Federal Reserve, which was intent on preventing inflation. At the same time, longer-term rates, in uncharacteristic fashion, did not move up as much, making for a flatter yield curve. That put pressure on bank margins, as the difference between what banks pay depositors and what they collect from loans shrunk. Life and health insurance companies did well all year as they turned in good results and were viewed as safe havens that had little taint of scandal or negative news headlines.

“Financial stocks as a group kept
pace with the broad market...”

2



Fund performance

For the year ended October 31, 2005, John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund posted total returns of 5.44% at net asset value and 3.68% at market value. The difference in the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) performance and its market performance stems from the fact that the market share price is subject to the dynamics of secondary market trading, which could cause it to trade at a discount or premium to the Fund’s NAV share price at any time. By comparison, the Fund’s benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 Financial Index returned 8.99% and the average open-end financial services fund returned 8.98% at net asset value, according to Lipper, Inc. Keep in mind that your net asset value return will be different from the Fund’s performance if you were not invested in the Fund for the entire period and did not reinvest all distributions.

Regional banks struggle

In the last 12 months, the Fund underperformed its Lipper category and benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 Financial Index because of the Fund’s mandate to invest primarily in regional banks. With a flat-ter yield curve putting pressure on bank interest margins, regional banks and thrifts in particular sold off after several years of spectacular outperformance. We were also hampered by our underweights in the good-performing investment bankers and insurance companies and by not owning any real estate investment trusts.

Select winners and disappointments

We did, however, have a number of names that performed well, including those considered more market sensitive and some non-bank capital-market sensitive holdings, such as Legg Mason, which we have since sold. Some of the best performers were banks perceived to be asset sensitive -- that is, improving results as interest rates rise. Topping our list were Zions Bancorp., Mercantile Bancshares Corp. and City National Corp.

Our trust banks and larger, more diversified banks also helped lift Fund results. These included Mellon Financial Corp. and Northern Trust Corp. PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., while not a trust bank, has more market-sensitive revenues than average because it owns asset manager BlackRock. Some of our larger banks, such as

“Our trust banks and larger, more
diversified banks also helped lift
Fund results.”

3


Industry 
distribution1 

 
Regional 
banks -- 68% 

 
Diversified 
banks -- 15% 

 
Thrifts & mortgage 
finance -- 7% 

 
Asset management & 
custody banks -- 4% 

 
Other diversified 
financial services -- 
4% 

Wachovia Corp. and U.S. Bancorp., did well because of their more diversified revenue stream, which made them less dependent on “spread” income, which is the income earned by the difference between what banks pay depositors and charge borrowers.

Our individual underperformers were largely banks that suffered earnings shortfalls or had slowdowns in mortgage activity. In this category were Fifth Third Bancorp., TCF Financial Corp., First Horizon National Corp. and North Fork Bancorp.

Merger slowdown

After a blistering year of bank mergers in 2004, the pace slowed to a crawl this fiscal year, with only four that involved Fund holdings --Hibernia Corp., which was bought by Capital One; Amegy Bancorp, which signed a deal to be purchased by Zions Bancorp; MBNA Corp., which is being bought by Bank of America Corp. and Columbia Bancorp., which is being bought by Fulton Financial Corp. The main reasons for the merger slowdown are lofty valuations at the smaller banks that have sparked unrealistic price expectations among sellers, and potential buyers otherwise


occupied integrating previous mergers. We’ve been through periods like this before, and over time price expectations adjust and mergers ramp up. It is also likely that the expense difficulties of complying with Sarbanes-Oxley will create additional incentives for small banks to consider merging.

Outlook

We remain cautiously optimistic in the near term on the prospects for financial stocks. Going into next year, higher interest rates,

4



elevated oil prices and a slower economy could lead to some concerns. Currently, with the banking industry fundamentals so good, with the percentage of bad loans very low, commercial loan activity growing and profitability very high, it would not be unrealistic to expect somewhat of a downturn in the recent high growth rate in earnings. Despite these short-term challenges, we remain convinced that the merger trend that was one of the key drivers of this fund’s birth remains in place. There are still 7,500 banks -- down from 14,000 some 20 years ago -- and we believe the trend will continue for a good many years to come.

“...we remain convinced that the
merger trend that was one of the
key drivers of this fund’s birth
remains in place.”

This commentary reflects the views of the portfolio managers through the end of the Fund’s period discussed in this report. The managers’ statements reflect their own opinions. As such, they are in no way guarantees of future events, and are not intended to be used as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific security. They are also subject to change at any time as market and other conditions warrant.

Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole.

1 As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2005.

5


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

FUND’S
INVESTMENTS

Securities owned
by the Fund on
October 31, 2005

This schedule is divided into three main categories: bonds, common
stocks and short-term investments. Bonds and common stocks are
further broken down by industry group. Short-term investments,
which represent the Fund’s cash position, are listed last.

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating  (000)  Value 

Bonds 0.10%          $893,662 
(Cost $770,000)           
Regional Banks 0.10%          893,662 

CSBI Capital Trust I,           
Gtd Sub Cap Inc Ser A (B)(G)  11.750%  06-06-27  B-  $770  893,662 
 
Issuer        Shares  Value 

Common stocks 97.61%          $866,507,570 
(Cost $383,067,328)           
Asset Management & Custody Banks 4.44%           39,452,002 

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (MA) (I)(L)      130,750  10,035,062 

Bank of New York Co., Inc. (The) (NY)        313,000  9,793,770 

Federated Investors, Inc. (Class B) (PA)        30,000  1,050,300 

Mellon Financial Corp. (PA)        330,000  10,457,700 

Northern Trust Corp. (IL) (L)        70,000  3,752,000 

State Street Corp. (MA)        79,000  4,363,170 
Consumer Finance 0.29%          2,557,000 

MBNA Corp. (DE)        100,000  2,557,000 
Diversified Banks 14.63%          129,873,398 

Bank of America Corp. (NC)        498,170  21,789,956 

Comerica, Inc. (MI)        407,400  23,539,572 

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The) (Canada)        140,499  6,647,008 

U.S. Bancorp. (MN)        878,541  25,987,243 

Wachovia Corp. (NC) (L)        545,071  27,536,987 

Wells Fargo & Co. (CA) (L)        404,861  24,372,632 
Other Diversified Financial Services 4.31%         38,268,247 

Citigroup, Inc. (NY)        455,925  20,872,246 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NY)        475,041  17,396,001 

See notes to financial statements.

6


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

Issuer  Shares  Value 
Regional Banks 67.46%    $598,809,099 

ABC Bancorp. (GA)  78,480  1,518,588 

Alabama National Bancorp. (AL)  142,500  9,216,900 

Amegy Bancorp., Inc. (TX)  520,660  12,042,866 

AmericanWest Bancorp. (WA) (I)  357,921  8,214,287 

AmSouth Bancorp. (AL) (L)  95,879  2,419,027 

BB&T Corp. (NC)  344,846  14,600,780 

Benjamin Franklin Bancorp., Inc. (MA)  15,000  202,500 

Beverly National Corp. (MA)  47,500  1,235,000 

BOK Financial Corp. (OK)  117,208  5,159,496 

Camden National Corp. (ME)  140,000  4,851,000 

Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (FL)  74,543  2,722,310 

Cardinal Financial Corp. (VA)  86,200  871,482 

Cascade Bancorp. (OR)  194,272  4,429,402 

Chittenden Corp. (VT)  175,245  5,041,799 

City Holding Co. (WV)  41,600  1,524,224 

City National Corp. (CA)  222,927  16,358,383 

CoBiz, Inc. (CO)  53,850  954,760 

Colonial BancGroup, Inc. (The) (AL)  585,200  14,249,620 

Columbia Bancorp. (MD)  90,000  3,639,600 

Columbia Bancorp. (OR) (L)  13,250  278,250 

Columbia Banking System, Inc. (WA)  29,645  857,037 

Commercial Bankshares, Inc. (FL)  63,702  2,261,421 

Community Bancorp. (NV) (I)  10,790  352,186 

Community Banks, Inc. (PA)  105,055  3,022,432 

Compass Bancshares, Inc. (AL) (L)  533,357  26,006,487 

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (TX)  20,000  1,056,400 

Dearborn Bancorp., Inc. (MI) (I)  41,310  1,034,815 

Desert Community Bank (CA)  137,500  4,373,875 

DNB Financial Corp. (PA)  69,121  1,416,980 

East West Bancorp., Inc. (CA) (L)  500,000  19,145,000 

Eurobancshares, Inc. (Puerto Rico) (I)  87,830  915,189 

F.N.B. Corp. (PA)  90,049  1,613,678 

Fifth Third Bancorp. (OH)  500,040  20,086,607 

Financial Institutions, Inc. (NY)  73,000  1,341,740 

First Charter Corp. (NC)  52,200  1,330,578 

First Horizon National Corp. (TN) (L)  156,650  6,059,222 

First Midwest Bancorp., Inc. (IL)  49,000  1,862,980 

First National Lincoln Corp. (ME)  146,499  2,710,232 

First Regional Bancorp. (CA) (I)  150,000  10,083,000 

See notes to financial statements.

7


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

Issuer  Shares  Value 
Regional Banks (continued)     

First State Bancorp. (NM)  130,000  $2,900,300 

FirstMerit Corp. (OH)  2,950  77,792 

Fulton Financial Corp. (PA) (L)  133,503  2,244,185 

Glacier Bancorp., Inc. (MT)  367,788  10,842,390 

Greene County Bancshares, Inc. (TN)  22,000  584,320 

Harleysville National Corp. (PA)  144,664  2,967,059 

Hibernia Corp. (Class A) (LA) (L)  234,700  6,963,549 

Independent Bank Corp. (MI)  323,510  9,249,151 

International Bancshares Corp. (TX)  200,337  5,998,090 

KeyCorp (OH) (L)  320,000  10,316,800 

Lakeland Financial Corp. (IN)  7,000  288,330 

M&T Bank Corp. (NY) (L)  238,657  25,674,720 

Marshall & Ilsley Corp. (WI)  572,595  24,598,681 

MB Financial, Inc. (IL)  123,950  4,619,617 

Mercantile Bankshares Corp. (MD)  209,500  11,807,420 

Merrill Merchants Bankshares, Inc. (ME)  75,897  1,916,399 

Mid-State Bancshares (CA)  50,000  1,356,500 

Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc. (IL) (L)  14,350  322,014 

National City Corp. (DE)  545,087  17,568,154 

North Fork Bancorp., Inc. (NY)  887,092  22,478,911 

Northrim Bancorp., Inc. (AK)  70,053  1,730,309 

Oriental Financial Group, Inc. (Puerto Rico)  20,234  251,306 

Pacific Capital Bancorp. (CA)  364,354  13,142,249 

Placer Sierra Bancshares (CA)  14,550  391,686 

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PA)  418,500  25,407,135 

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (TX)  125,000  3,811,250 

Provident Bankshares Corp. (MD)  165,058  5,753,922 

Regions Financial Corp. (AL) (L)  167,390  5,448,545 

Republic Bancorp., Inc. (MI)  3,300  45,045 

S&T Bancorp., Inc. (PA)  154,700  5,756,387 

Sandy Spring Bancorp., Inc. (MD)  12,500  440,625 

Security Bank Corp. (GA)  70,000  1,727,600 

Sky Financial Group, Inc. (OH)  234,850  6,594,588 

SNB Bancshares, Inc. (TX) (I)  94,340  1,037,740 

Southcoast Financial Corp. (SC) (I)  40,900  940,700 

South Financial Group, Inc. (The) (SC)  15,500  427,335 

Southwest Bancorp., Inc. (OK)  41,000  959,810 

State National Bancshares, Inc. (TX) (I)(L)  11,580  283,710 

See notes to financial statements.

8


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

Issuer  Shares  Value 
Regional Banks (continued)     

Summit Bancshares, Inc. (TX)  279,000  $5,186,610 

SunTrust Banks, Inc. (GA)  336,826  24,413,148 

Synovus Financial Corp. (GA)  450,000  12,361,500 

Taylor Capital Group, Inc. (IL)  241,950  9,953,823 

TCF Financial Corp. (MN)  428,016  11,599,234 

TD Banknorth, Inc. (ME)  334,517  9,630,744 

Texas Regional Bancshares, Inc. (Class A) (TX)  100,000  2,933,000 

Texas United Bancshares, Inc. (TX)  47,100  939,169 

TriCo Bancshares (CA)  53,000  1,196,210 

UCBH Holdings, Inc. (CA)  400,000  6,960,000 

Umpqua Holdings Corp. (OR)  177,901  4,732,167 

Univest Corp. (PA)  205,218  5,335,668 

Valley National Bancorp. (NJ)  157,386  3,815,037 

Vineyard National Bancorp. Co. (CA)  283,970  8,314,642 

Virginia Commerce Bancorp., Inc. (VA) (I)  16,671  458,453 

Virginia Financial Group, Inc. (VA)  22,400  821,632 

West Coast Bancorp. (OR)  67,583  1,787,570 

Western Alliance Bancorp. (NV) (I)  20,650  575,103 

Whitney Holding Corp. (LA)  150,750  4,070,250 

Wilmington Trust Corp. (DE)  350,000  13,268,500 

Yardville National Bancorp. (NJ)  97,400  3,537,568 

Zions Bancorp. (UT) (L)  203,275  14,934,614 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 6.48%    57,547,824 

Astoria Financial Corp. (NY) (L)  102,865  2,875,077 

Commercial Capital Bancorp., Inc. (CA)  450,000  7,227,000 

Countrywide Financial Corp. (CA) (L)  291,500  9,260,955 

Freddie Mac (VA)  140,000  8,589,000 

Hingham Institute for Savings (MA)  80,000  3,080,000 

Hudson City Bancorp., Inc. (NJ)  383,810  4,544,310 

LSB Corp. (MA)  65,000  1,057,550 

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NY)  40,000  646,800 

NewAlliance Bancshares, Inc. (CT)  12,581  181,418 

PennFed Financial Services, Inc. (NJ)  313,600  6,130,880 

Sovereign Bancorp., Inc. (PA)  30,000  647,100 

Washington Mutual, Inc. (WA)  254,312  10,070,755 

Webster Financial Corp. (CT)  70,110  3,236,979 

See notes to financial statements.

9


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

  Interest  Par value   
Issuer, description, maturity date  rate  (000)  Value 

Short-term investments 13.72%      $121,694,293 
 
(Cost $121,694,293)       
Certificates of Deposit 0.01%      78,864 

Deposits in mutual banks    $79  78,864 
 
Joint Repurchase Agreement 2.02%      17,889,000 

Investment in a joint repurchase agreement       
transaction with Barclays Capital, Inc. --       
Dated 10-31-05 due 11-01-05 (secured       
by U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Note       
0.875% due 04-15-10 and 1.875%       
due 07-15-13)  3.940%  17,889  17,889,000 

  Shares   
Cash Equivalents 11.69%    103,726,429 

AIM Cash Investment Trust (T)  103,726,429  103,726,429 

Total investments 111.43%    $989,095,525 

Other assets and liabilities, net (11.43%)    ($101,456,731) 

Total net assets 100.00%    $887,638,794 

(B)      This security is fair valued in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
 
(G)      Security rated internally by John Hancock Advisers, LLC.
 
(I)      Non-income-producing security.
 
(L)      All or a portion of this security is on loan as of October 31, 2005.
 
(T)      Represents investment of securities lending collateral.
 
  Parenthetical disclosure of a foreign country in the security description represents country of a foreign issuer.

The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.
 

See notes to financial statements.

10


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

ASSETS AND
LIABILITIES

October 31, 2005

This Statement
of Assets and
Liabilities is the
Fund’s balance
sheet. It shows
the value of
what the Fund
owns, is due
and owes. You’ll
also find the net
asset value for each
common share.

Assets   
Investments at value (cost $505,531,621)   
including $101,692,579 of securities loaned  $989,095,525 
Cash  908 
Receivable for investments sold  1,803,717 
Dividends and interest receivable  1,442,480 
Other assets  112,790 
Total assets  992,455,420 

Liabilities   
Payable upon return of securities loaned  103,726,429 
Payable to affiliates   
Management fees  754,851 
Other  83,739 
Other payables and accrued expenses  251,607 
Total liabilities  104,816,626 

Net assets   
Capital paid-in  396,955,009 
Accumulated net realized gain on investments  5,934,800 
Net unrealized appreciation of investments  483,563,904 
Accumulated net investment income  1,185,081 
Net assets  $887,638,794 

Net asset value per share   
Based on 84,400,000 shares of   
beneficial interest outstanding --   
unlimited number of shares   
authorized with no par value  $10.52 

See notes to financial statements.

11


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

OPERATIONS

For the year ended
October 31, 2005

This Statement
of Operations
summarizes the
Fund’s investment
income earned and
expenses incurred
in operating the
Fund. It also shows
net gains (losses)
for the period
stated.

Investment income   
Dividends (including $10,598 received from affiliated   
issuers and net of foreign withholding taxes of $23,167)  $23,507,806 
Interest  577,806 
Securities lending  101,357 
Total investment income  24,186,969 

Expenses   
Investment management fees  10,465,497 
Administration fees  2,275,108 
Custodian fees  144,134 
Printing  124,074 
Registration and filing fees  74,567 
Professional fees  65,407 
Trustees’ fees  61,585 
Miscellaneous  51,772 
Transfer agent fees  50,727 
Compliance fees  22,624 
Securities lending fees  4,957 
Total expenses  13,340,452 
Less expense reductions  (1,365,065) 
Net expenses  11,975,387 
Net investment income  12,211,582 

Realized and unrealized gain (loss)   
Net realized gain on investments  76,139,650 
Change in net unrealized appreciation   
(depreciation) of investments  (48,302,904) 
Net realized and unrealized gain  27,836,746 
Increase in net assets from operations  $40,048,328 

See notes to
financial statements.

12


F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

CHANGES IN
NET ASSETS

These Statements
of Changes in Net
Assets show how
the value of the
Fund’s net assets
has changed
during the last
two periods.
The difference
reflects earnings
less expenses,
any investment
gains and
losses, and
distributions paid
to shareholders.

  Year  Year 
  ended  ended 
  10-31-04  10-31-05 

 
Increase (decrease) in net assets     
From operations     
Net investment income  $10,615,863  $12,211,582 
Net realized gain  73,802,030  76,139,650 
Change in net unrealized     
appreciation (depreciation)  57,014,888  (48,302,904) 
Increase in net assets     
resulting from operations  141,432,781  40,048,328 
Distributions to shareholders     
From net investment income  (9,873,112)  (19,937,812) 
From net realized gain  (111,939,720)  (75,518,588) 
  (121,812,832)  (95,456,400) 

 
Net assets     
Beginning of period  923,426,917  943,046,866 
End of period1  $943,046,866  $887,638,794 
 
1 Includes accumulated net investment income of $8,910,098 and $1,185,081, respectively. 

See notes to
financial statements.

13


F I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS

COMMON SHARES

The Financial Highlights show how the Fund’s net asset value for a

share has changed since the end of the previous period.

Period ended  10-31-01  10-31-02  10-31-03  10-31-04  10-31-05 

Per share operating performance           
Net asset value,           
beginning of period  $9.53  $9.76  $9.54  $10.94  $11.17 
Net investment income1  0.15  0.11  0.12  0.13  0.14 
Net realized and unrealized           
gain on investments  0.86  0.88  2.14  1.55  0.34 
Total from           
investment operations  1.01  0.99  2.26  1.68  0.48 
Less distributions           
From net investment income  (0.21)  (0.13)  (0.12)  (0.12)  (0.24) 
From net realized gain  (0.57)  (1.08)  (0.74)  (1.33)  (0.89) 
  (0.78)  (1.21)  (0.86)  (1.45)  (1.13) 
Net asset value,           
end of period  $9.76  $9.54  $10.94  $11.17  $10.52 
Per share market value,           
end of period  $7.88  $7.92  $9.65  $10.14  $9.39 
Total return at market value2,3 (%)  9.56  15.39  35.54  21.37  3.68 

Ratios and supplemental data           
Net assets, end of period           
(in millions)  $823  $805  $923  $943  $888 
Ratio of expenses           
to average net assets (%)  1.43  1.43  1.43  1.39  1.32 
Ratio of adjusted expenses           
to average net assets4 (%)  1.45  1.46  1.48  1.47  1.47 
Ratio of net investment income           
to average net assets (%)  1.51  1.11  1.28  1.17  1.34 
Portfolio turnover (%)  27  20  4  5  5 

1      Based on the average of the shares outstanding.
 
2      Assumes dividend reinvestment.
 
3      Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown.
 
4      Does not take into consideration expense reductions during the periods shown.
 

See notes to
financial statements.

14


NOTES TO
STATEMENTS

Note A
Accounting policies

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified closed-end management investment company, shares of which were initially offered to the public on August 23, 1994, and are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Significant accounting policies
of the Fund are as follows:

Valuation of investments

Securities in the Fund’s portfolio are valued on the basis of market quotations, valuations provided by independent pricing services or if quotations are not readily available, or the value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of a foreign market, at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Investments in AIM Cash Investment Trust are valued at their net asset value each business day. All portfolio transactions initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies have been translated into U.S. dollars as described in “Foreign currency translation” below.

Joint repurchase agreement

Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other registered investment companies having a management contract with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., may participate in a joint repurchase agreement transaction. Aggregate cash balances are invested in one or more large repurchase agreements, whose underlying securities are obligations of the U.S. government and/or its agencies. The Fund’s custodian bank receives delivery of the underlying securities for the joint account on the Fund’s behalf. The Adviser is responsible for ensuring that the agreement is fully collateralized at all times.

Foreign currency translation

All assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on London currency exchange quotations as of 4:00 P.M., London time, on the date of any determination of the net asset value of the Fund. Transactions affecting statement of operations accounts and net realized gain (loss) on investments are translated at the rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.

The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.

15


Reported net realized foreign currency exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates.

Investment transactions

Investment transactions are recorded as of the date of purchase, sale or maturity. Net realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Capital gains realized on some foreign securities are subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable.

Expenses

The majority of expenses are directly identifiable to an individual fund. Expenses that are not readily identifi-able to a specific fund are allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative size of the funds.

Securities lending

The Fund may lend securities to certain qualified brokers who pay the Fund negotiated lender fees. The loans are collateralized at all times with cash or securities with a market value at least equal to the market value of the securities on loan. As with other extensions of credit, the Fund may bear the risk of delay of the loaned securities in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral, should the borrower of the securities fail financially. At October 31, 2005, the Fund loaned securities having a market value of $101,692,579 collateralized by cash in the amount of $103,726,429. The cash collateral was invested in a short-term instrument. Securities lending expenses are paid by the Fund to the Adviser.

Federal income taxes

The Fund qualifies as a “regulated investment company” by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

Dividends, interest
and distributions

Dividend income on investment securities is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, in the case of some foreign securities, on the date thereafter when the Fund identifies the dividend. Interest income on investment securities is recorded on the accrual basis. Foreign income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable.

The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date. During the year ended October 31, 2004, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $12,023,624 and long-term capital gain $109,789,189. During the year ended October 31, 2005, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $20,979,308 and long-term capital gain $74,477,092.

As of October 31, 2005, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis included $1,493,841 of undistributed ordinary income and $5,871,507 of undistributed long-term capital gain.

Such distributions and distributable earnings, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Distributions in excess of tax

16


basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the Fund’s financial statements as a return of capital.

Use of estimates

The preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, incorporates estimates made by management in determining the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Fund. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Note B
Management fee and
transactions with
affiliates and others

The Fund has an investment management contract with the Adviser. Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a monthly management fee to the Adviser at an annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s average weekly net asset value.

The Fund has an agreement with the Adviser to perform certain administrative services for the Fund. The compensation for the year was at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average weekly net asset value of the Fund. The Adviser agreed to limit the administration fee to 0.10% of the Fund’s average weekly net asset value. Accordingly, the expense reductions related to the administration fee amounted to $1,365,065 for the year ended October 31, 2005. The Adviser reserves the right to terminate this limitation in the future with Trustees’ approval. The net administrative fee compensation for the year amounted to $910,043. The Fund also paid the Adviser the amount of $116 for certain publishing services, included in the printing fees. The Fund also reimbursed John Hancock Life Insurance Co. for certain compliance costs, included in the Fund’s Statement of Operations.

Mr. James R. Boyle is an offi-cer of certain affiliates of the Adviser, as well as affili-ated Trustee of the Fund, and is compensated by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The compensation of other unaffiliated Trustees is borne by the Fund. The unaffiliated Trustees may elect to defer, for tax purposes, their receipt of this compensation under the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan. The Fund makes investments into other John Hancock funds, as applicable, to cover its liability for the deferred compensation. Investments to cover the Fund’s deferred compensation liability are recorded on the Fund’s books as an other asset. The deferred compensation liability and the related other asset are always equal and are marked to market on a periodic basis to reflect any income earned by the investments, as well as any unrealized gains or losses.

The Deferred Compensation Plan investments had no impact on the operations of the Fund.

The Fund is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and has filed with the NYSE its chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. The Fund also files with the Securities and Exchange Commission the certification of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Note C
Fund common
share transactions

The Fund had no common share transactions during the years ended October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2005.

Note D
Investment
transactions

Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the year ended October 31, 2005, aggregated $42,834,147 and $124,355,389, respectively.

The cost of investments owned on October 31, 2005, including short-term investments, for federal income tax purposes, was $505,637,342. Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $485,055,687

17


and $1,597,504, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $483,458,183. The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation of investments is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on certain sales of securities.

Note E
Transaction in securities of affiliated issuers

Affiliated issuers, as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, are those in which the Fund’s holdings of an issuer represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer. A summary of the Fund’s transactions in the securities of these issuers during the year ended October 31, 2005, is set forth below.

  Beginning  Ending       
  share  share  Realized  Dividend  Ending 
Affiliate  amount  amount  gain  income  value 
 
FNB Bankshares (ME)           
common stock           
bought: none           
sold: none  62,3401  --  --  $10,598  -- 

1 Acquired by First National Lincoln effective January 18, 2005.

Note F
Reclassification
of accounts

During the year ended October 31, 2005, the Fund reclassified amounts to reflect an increase in accu mulated net realized gain on investments of $1,696, an increase in accumulated net investment income of $1,213 and a decrease in capital paid-in of $2,909. This represents the amounts necessary to report these balances on a tax basis, excluding certain temporary differences, as of October 31, 2005. Additional adjustments may be needed in subsequent reporting periods. These reclassifications, which have no impact on the net asset value of the Fund, are primarily attributable to certain differences in the computation of distributable income and capital gains under federal tax rules versus accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, book and tax differences in accounting for deferred compensation. The calculation of net investment income per share in the Fund’s Financial Highlights excludes these adjustments.

Change in
independent auditor
(unaudited)

Based on the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Fund, the Board of Trustees has determined not to retain Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and voted to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.  During the two most  recent fiscal years, Deloitte & Touche LLP’s audit reports contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion; nor were their reports qualified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. Further, there were no disagreements between the Fund and Deloitte & Touche LLP on accounting principles, financial statements disclosure or audit scope, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche LLP, would have caused them to make reference to the disagreement in their reports.

18


AUDITORS’
REPORT

Report of Deloitte
& Touche LLP,
Independent
Registered Public
Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of John Hancock
Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund,

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”), as of October 31, 2005, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets for the years ended October 31, 2004 and 2005 and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period ended October 31, 2005. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned at October 31, 2005, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2005, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and its financial highlights for the respective stated periods in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 9, 2005

19


TAX
INFORMATION

Unaudited

For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the Fund, if any, paid during its taxable year ended October 31, 2005.

The Fund designated distributions to shareholders of $74,477,092 as capital gain dividends.

With respect to the ordinary dividends paid by the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, 100% of the dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

The Fund hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. This amount will be reflected on Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year 2005.

Shareholders will be mailed a 2005 U.S. Treasury Department Form 1099-DIV in January 2006. This will reflect the total of all distributions that are taxable for calendar year 2005.

20


Investment
objective
and policy

The Fund is a closed-end diversified management investment company, shares of which were initially offered to the public on August 23, 1994 and are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Its investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

On November 20, 2001 the Fund’s Trustees approved the following investment policy changes effective December 15, 2001: Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. regional banks and thrifts and holding companies that primarily own or receive a substantial portion of their income from regional banks or thrifts. “Net assets” is defined as net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes. “Primarily owned” means that the bank or finan-cial holding company derives a substantial portion of its business from U.S. regional banks or thrifts as determined by the Adviser, based upon generally accepted measures such as revenues, asset size and number of employees. U.S. regional banks or thrifts are ones that provide full-service banking (i.e. savings accounts, checking accounts, commercial lending and real estate lending) and whose assets are primarily of domestic origin. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days prior to any change in this 80% investment policy.

The Fund may invest in investment-grade debt securities as well as debt securities rated BB or below by Standard & Poor’s Ratings group (“Standard & Poor’s”) or Ba or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or, if unrated by such rating organizations, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.

By-laws

On November 19, 2002, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments to the Fund’s by-laws, including provisions relating to the calling of a special meeting and requiring advance notice of shareholder proposals or nominees for Trustee. The advance notice provisions in the by-laws require shareholders to notify the Fund in writing of any proposal that they intend to present at an annual meeting of shareholders, including any nominations for Trustee, between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the mailing date of the notice from the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. The noti-fication must be in the form prescribed by the by-laws. The advance notice provisions provide the Fund and its Trustees with the opportunity to thoughtfully consider and address the matters proposed before the Fund prepares and mails its proxy statement to shareholders.

Other amendments set forth the procedures that must be followed in order for a shareholder to call a special meeting of shareholders. Please contact the Secretary of the Fund for additional information about the advance notice requirements or the other amendments to the by-laws.

Dividends and
distributions

During the year ended October 31, 2005, dividends from net investment income totaling $0.236 per share and capital gain distributions totaling $0.895 per share were paid to shareholders. The dates of payments and the amounts per share are as follows:

  INCOME 
PAYMENT DATE  DIVIDEND 

December 31, 2004  0.126 
March 31, 2005  0.034 
June 30, 2005  0.038 
September 30, 2005  0.038 
 
  CAPITAL 
  GAIN 
PAYMENT DATE  DISTRIBUTION 

December 31, 2004  0.144 
March 31, 2005  0.253 
June 30, 2005  0.249 
September 30, 2005  0.249 

Dividend
reinvestment plan

The Fund offers its shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan, (the “Plan”), which offers the opportunity to earn compounded yields. Each holder of common shares will automatically have all distributions of dividends and capital gains reinvested by Mellon Investor Services as Plan

21


agent for the shareholders (the “Plan Agent”), unless an election is made to receive cash. Each registered shareholder will receive from the Plan Agent an authorization card to be signed and returned if the shareholder elects to receive distributions from net investment income in cash or elects not to receive capital gains distributions in the form of a shares dividend. Shareholders may also make their election by notifying the Plan Agent by telephone or by visiting the Plan Agent’s Web site at www.melloninvestor.com. Holders of common shares who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or if the common shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend disbursing agent. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee or shareholders transferring such an account to a new broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee, to determine whether and how they may participate in the Plan.

The Plan Agent serves as agent for the holders of common shares in administering the Plan. After the Fund declares a dividend or makes a capital gains distribution, the Plan Agent will, as agent for the participants, receive the cash payment and use it to buy common shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. The Fund will not issue any new shares in connection with the Plan. The Plan Agent’s fees for the handling of reinvestment of dividends and other distributions will be paid by the Fund. Each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of distributions. There are no other charges to participants for reinvesting dividends or capital gain distributions.

Participants in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan at any time by contacting the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing or by visiting the Plan Agent’s Web site at www.melloninvestor.com. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if received prior to a dividend record date; otherwise, it will be effective for all subsequent dividend record dates. When a participant withdraws from the Plan or upon termination of the Plan, as provided below, either a cash payment will be made to the participant for the full value of the common shares credited to the account upon instruction by the participant, or certifi-cates for whole common shares credited to his or her account under the Plan will be issued and a cash payment will be made for any fraction of a common share credited to such account.

The Plan Agent maintains each shareholder’s account in the Plan and furnishes monthly written confirma-tions of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by the shareholders for personal and tax records. The Plan Agent will hold common shares in the account of each Plan participant in non-certificated form in the name of the participant. Proxy material relating to shareholders’ meetings of the Fund will include those shares purchased as well as shares held pursuant to the Plan. In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees, which hold common shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of common shares certified from time to time by the record shareholders as representing the total amount registered in the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are participants in the Plan. Shares may be purchased through broker-dealers.

Dividends and capital gains distributions are taxable whether received in cash or reinvested in additional common shares, and the automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions will not relieve participants of any U.S.

22


federal income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such dividends or distributions. The amount of dividends to be reported on 1099-DIV should be the amount of cash used by the Plan Agent to purchase shares in the open market, including the amount of cash allocated to brokerage commissions paid on such purchases.

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to all shareholders of the Fund at least 90 days before the record date for the dividend or distribution. The Plan may be amended or terminated by the Plan Agent by at least 90 days’ written notice to all shareholders of the Fund. All correspondence or additional information concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent, Mellon Bank, N.A., c/o Mellon Investor Services, P.O. Box 3338, South Hackensack, NJ 07606-1938 (Telephone: 1-800-852-0218).

Shareholder
communication
and assistance

If you have any questions concerning the Fund, we will be pleased to assist you. If you hold shares in your own
name and not with a brokerage firm, please address all notices, correspondence, questions or other communications regarding the Fund to the transfer agent at:

Mellon Investor Services
Newport Office Center VII
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Telephone: 1-800-852-0218

If your shares are held with a brokerage firm, you should contact that firm, bank or other nominee for assistance.

Shareholder meeting (unaudited)

On March 2, 2005, the Annual Meeting of the Fund was held to elect four Trustees and to ratify the actions of the Trustees in selecting independent auditors for the Fund.

Proxies covering 80,472,283 shares of beneficial interest were voted at the meeting. The shareholders elected the following Trustees to serve until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, with the votes tabulated as follows:

    W I T H H E L D 
  F O R  A U T H O R I T Y 

James F. Carlin  78,949,160  1,523,123 
William H. Cunningham  78,869,175  1,603,108 
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.  78,874,591  1,597,692 
James A. Shepherdson*  78,922,125  1,550,158 

* James A. Shepherdson resigned effective July 15, 2005

The shareholders ratified the Trustees’ selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Fund’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2005, with votes tabulated as follows: 79,586,697 FOR, 596,622 AGAINST and 288,964 ABSTAINING.

23


Board Consideration
of and Continuation
of Investment
Advisory Agreement:
John Hancock
Bank and Thrift
Opportunity Fund

Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) requires the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”), including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), annually to review and consider the continuation of the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the Fund.

At meetings held on May 19-20 and June 6-7, 2005, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. During such meetings, the Board’s Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel. In evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose by the Independent Trustees, including but not limited to the following: (i) the investment performance of the Fund and a broader universe of relevant funds (the “Universe”) selected by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of investment company data, for a range of periods, (ii) advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the Fund and a peer group of comparable funds selected by Lipper (the “Peer Group”), (iii) the advisory fees of comparable portfolios of other clients of the Adviser, (iv) the Adviser’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund, (v) breakpoints in the Fund’s and the Peer Group’s fees and a study undertaken at the direction of the Independent Trustees as to the allocation of the benefits of economies of scale between the Fund and the Adviser, (vi) the Adviser’s record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions, and with the Fund’s Code of Ethics and the structure and responsibilities of the Adviser’s compliance department, (vii) the background and experience of senior management and investment professionals, and (viii) the nature, cost and character of advisory and non-investment management services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board considered the ability of the Adviser, based on its resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory, and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the administrative services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates.

Based on the above factors, together with those referenced below, the Board concluded that, within the context of its full deliberations, the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser were sufficient to support renewal of the Advisory Agreement.

Fund performance

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods. The Board also considered these results in comparison to the performance of the Universe,

24


as well as the Fund’s benchmark indexes. Lipper determined the Universe for the Fund. The Board reviewed with a representative of Lipper the methodology used by Lipper to select the funds in the Universe and the Peer Group.

The Board noted that, except for the most recent year ended December 31, 2004, the performance of the Fund was higher than the median and average performance of its Universe for the time periods under review and was higher than the performance of its benchmark index, the S&P Financial Index, for all of the time periods under review. The Board also noted that during the most recent year under review, the Fund’s performance was lower than the median performance of the Universe, but was not appreciably below the average performance of the Universe.

Investment advisory fee
rates and expenses

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rate”). The Board noted the fee waiver arrange ment applicable to the Advisory Agreement Rate and considered the Advisory Agreement Rate after taking the waivers into account (the “Net Advisory Rate”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Advisory Agreement Rate and Net Advisory Rate with the advisory fees for the Peer Group. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement Rate and Net Advisory Rate were higher than the median rate of the Peer Group. The Adviser discussed with the Board factors contributing to the higher Advisory Agreement Rate and Net Advisory Rate. The Board favorably considered the Adviser’s agreement to implement additional fee waivers, which will lower the Net Advisory Rate.

The Board received and considered information regarding the Fund’s total operating expense ratio and its various components, including contractual advisory fees, actual advisory fees, non-management fees, transfer agent fees and custodian fees, including and excluding investment-related expenses. The Board also considered comparisons of these expenses to the Peer Group and the Universe. The Board noted that the total operating expense ratio of the Fund was higher than the Peer Group’s and Universe’s median total operating expense ratio. The Board favorably considered the impact of the additional fee waivers towards lowering the Fund’s total operating expense ratio.

The Adviser also discussed the Lipper data and rankings, and other relevant information, for the Fund. Based on the above-referenced considerations and other factors, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance and plans for lowering the Net Advisory Rate supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreement.

Profitability

The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreement, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board concluded that, in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits reported by the Adviser were not unreasonable.

Economies of scale

The Board received and considered general information regarding economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, including the Fund’s ability to appropriately benefit from economies of scale under the Fund’s fee structure. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of the Adviser’s costs are not specific to

25


individual Funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.

The Board observed that the Advisory Agreement did not offer breakpoints. However, the Board considered the limited relevance of economies of scale in the context of a closed-end fund that, unlike an open-end fund, does not continuously offer its shares, and concluded that the fees were fair and equitable based on relevant factors, including the Fund’s total expenses ranking relative to its Peer Group.

Information about
services to other clients

The Board also received information about the nature, extent and quality of services and fee rates offered by the Adviser to its other clients, including other registered investment companies, institutional investors and separate accounts. The Board concluded that the Advisory Agreement Rate was not unreasonable, taking into account fee rates offered to others by the Adviser and giving effect to differences in services covered by such fee rates.

Other benefits to
the adviser

The Board received information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary bene-fits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other finan-cial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).

The Board also considered the effectiveness of the Adviser’s and the Fund’s policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including those relating to best execution of portfolio transactions and brokerage allocation.

Other factors and
broader review

As discussed above, the Board reviewed detailed materials received from the Adviser as part of the annual re-approval process under Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. The Board also regularly reviews and assesses the quality of the services that the Fund receives throughout the year. In this regard, the Board reviews reports of the Adviser at least quarterly, which include, among other things, a detailed portfolio review, detailed fund performance reports and compliance reports. In addition, the Board meets with portfolio managers and senior investment officers at various times throughout the year.

After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement.


TRUSTEES
& OFFICERS

This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who
oversee your John Hancock fund. Officers elected by the Trustees
manage the day-to-day operations of the Fund and execute policies
formulated by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees     
Name, age    Number of 
Position(s) held with Fund  Trustee  John Hancock 
Principal occupation(s) and other  of Fund  funds overseen 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  by Trustee 

Ronald R. Dion, Born: 1946  1998  53 
Independent Chairman (since 2005); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,     
R.M. Bradley & Co., Inc.; Director, The New England Council and Massachusetts   
Roundtable; Trustee, North Shore Medical Center; Director, Boston Stock     
Exchange; Director, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. and a corporator of the Eastern     
Bank; Trustee, Emmanuel College; Director, Boston Municipal Research Bureau;   
Member of the Advisory Board, Carroll Graduate School of Management at     
Boston College.     

 
James F. Carlin, Born: 1940  1994  53 
Director and Treasurer, Alpha Analytical Inc. (analytical laboratory) (since 1985);   
Part Owner and Treasurer, Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. (since 1995);   
Part Owner and Vice President, Mone Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc.     
(since 1996); Director and Treasurer, Rizzo Associates (engineering) (until 2000);   
Chairman and CEO, Carlin Consolidated, Inc. (management/investments) (since   
1987); Director and Partner, Proctor Carlin & Co., Inc. (until 1999); Trustee,     
Massachusetts Health and Education Tax Exempt Trust (since 1993); Director of   
the following: Uno Restaurant Corp. (until 2001), Arbella Mutual (insurance)     
(until 2000), HealthPlan Services, Inc. (until 1999), Flagship Healthcare, Inc. (until   
1999), Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. (until 1999); Chairman, Massachusetts     
Board of Higher Education (until 1999).     

 
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.,2 Born: 1935  2005  53 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Brookline Bancorp Inc. (lending)     
(since 1972); Director, Lumber Insurance Co. (insurance) (until 2000);     
Chairman and Director, Northeast Retirement Services, Inc. (retirement     
administration) (since 1998).     

 
William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944  1995  143 
Former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the     
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Chairman and CEO, IBT Technologies     
(until 2001); Director of the following: The University of Texas Investment     
Management Company (until 2000), Hire.com (until 2004), STC Broadcasting,     
Inc. and Sunrise Television Corp. (electronic manufacturing) (until 2001),     
Symtx, Inc. (electronic manufacturing) (since 2001), Adorno/Rogers Technology,   
Inc. (until 2004), Pinnacle Foods Corporation (until 2003), rateGenius (Internet     

27


Independent Trustees (continued)     
Name, age    Number of 
Position(s) held with Fund  Trustee  John Hancock 
Principal occupation(s) and other  of Fund  funds overseen 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  by Trustee 

William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944 (continued)  1995  143 
service) (until 2003), Jefferson-Pilot Corporation (diversified life insurance     
company) (since 1985), New Century Equity Holdings (formerly Billing Concepts)   
(until 2001), eCertain (until 2001), ClassMap.com (until 2001), Agile Ventures     
(until 2001), LBJ Foundation (until 2000), Golfsmith International, Inc.     
(until 2000), Metamor Worldwide (until 2000), AskRed.com (until 2001),     
Southwest Airlines (since 2000) and Introgen (since 2000); Advisory Director,     
Q Investments (until 2003); Advisory Director, Chase Bank (formerly Texas     
Commerce Bank - Austin) (since 1988), LIN Television (since 2002), WilTel     
Communications (until 2003) and Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.     
(diversified automotive parts supply company) (since 2003).     

 
Charles L. Ladner,2 Born: 1938  1994  143 
Chairman and Trustee, Dunwoody Village, Inc. (retirement services) (until 2003);   
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UGI Corporation (public utility   
holding company) (retired 1998); Vice President and Director for AmeriGas, Inc.   
(retired 1998); Director of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (until 1997) (gas distribution);   
Director, EnergyNorth, Inc. (until 1995); Director, Parks and History Association     
(since 2001).     

 
John A. Moore,2 Born: 1939  2002  53 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Evaluating Health Risks,     
(nonprofit institution) (until 2001); Chief Scientist, Sciences International (health   
research) (until 2003); Principal, Hollyhouse (consulting) (since 2000); Director,     
CIIT (nonprofit research) (since 2002).     

 
Patti McGill Peterson,2 Born: 1943  2002  53 
Executive Director, Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Vice     
President, Institute of International Education (since 1998); Senior Fellow, Cornell   
Institute of Public Affairs, Cornell University (until 1998); Former President of     
Wells College and St. Lawrence University; Director, Niagara Mohawk Power     
Corporation (until 2003); Director, Ford Foundation, International Fellowships     
Program (since 2002); Director, Lois Roth Endowment (since 2002); Director,     
Council for International Educational Exchange (since 2003).     

 
Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944  1994  53 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc.     
(since 2000); Director and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc.     
(until 2000); Managing Director, JonJames, LLC (real estate) (since 2001);     
Director, First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast     
Realty Trust (until 1994); President, Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991).     

28


Non-Independent Trustee3     
Name, age    Number of 
Position(s) held with Fund  Trustee  John Hancock 
Principal occupation(s) and other  of Fund  funds overseen 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  by Trustee 

James R. Boyle, Born: 1959  2005  237 
President, John Hancock Annuities; Executive Vice President, John Hancock     
Life Insurance Company (since June, 2004); Chairman and Director, John     
Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”); John Hancock Funds, LLC (“John     
Hancock Funds”) and The Berkeley Financial Group, LLC (“The Berkeley     
Group”) (holding company) (since 2005); President U.S. Annuities; Senior     
Vice President, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (prior     
to 2004).     
 
Principal officers who are not Trustees     
Name, age     
Position(s) held with Fund    Officer 
Principal occupation(s) and    of Fund 
directorships during past 5 years    since 

Keith F. Hartstein, Born: 1956    2005 
President and Chief Executive Officer     
Senior Vice President, Manulife Financial Corporation (since 2004); Director,     
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Adviser and The Berkeley Group;     
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock Funds; Director,     
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sovereign Asset Management LLC     
(“Sovereign”); Director, John Hancock Signature Services, Inc.; President, John     
Hancock Trust; Chairman and President, NM Capital Management, Inc. (NM     
Capital) (since 2005); Chairman, Investment Company Institute Sales Force     
Marketing Committee (since 2003); Executive Vice President, John Hancock     
Funds (until 2005).     

 
William H. King, Born: 1952    1994 
Vice President and Treasurer     
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, the Adviser; Vice President and Treasurer   
of each of the John Hancock funds advised by the Adviser; Assistant Treasurer     
of each of the John Hancock funds (until 2001).     

 
Francis V. Knox, Jr., Born: 1947    2005 
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer     
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for John Hancock Investment     
Company, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), John Hancock Life     
Insurance Company and John Hancock Funds (since 2005); Fidelity Investments -   
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, Fidelity Group of Funds (until 2004);     
Fidelity Investments - Vice President and Ethics & Compliance Officer (until 2001).   

 
John G. Vrysen, Born: 1955    2005 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Director, the Adviser,     
The Berkeley Group and John Hancock Funds.     
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Adviser, Sovereign,     
The Berkeley Group and John Hancock Funds (since 2005); Vice President and     
General Manager, Fixed Annuities, U.S. Wealth Management (until 2005); Vice   
President, Operations, Manulife Wood Logan (July 2000 thru September 2004).   

29


Notes to Trustees and Officers pages

The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210-2805.

The Statement of Additional Information of the Fund includes additional information about members of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-5291.

1 Each Trustee serves until resignation, retirement age or until his or her successor is elected.

2 Member of Audit Committee.

3 Non-independent Trustees hold positions with the Fund’s investment adviser, underwriter and certain other affiliates.

30


OUR FAMILY
OF FUNDS

Equity  Balanced Fund 
  Classic Value Fund 
  Core Equity Fund 
  Focused Equity Fund 
  Greater China Opportunities Fund 
  Growth Trends Fund 
  International Fund 
  Large Cap Equity Fund 
  Large Cap Select Fund 
  Mid Cap Growth Fund 
  Multi Cap Growth Fund 
  Small Cap Equity Fund 
  Small Cap Fund 
  Small Cap Growth Fund 
  Sovereign Investors Fund 
  U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund 

 
Allocation  Allocation Growth + Value Portfolio 
  Allocation Core Portfolio 

 
Sector  Financial Industries Fund 
  Health Sciences Fund 
  Real Estate Fund 
  Regional Bank Fund 
  Technology Fund 
  Technology Leaders Fund 

 
Income  Bond Fund 
  Government Income Fund 
  High Yield Fund 
  Investment Grade Bond Fund 
  Strategic Income Fund 

 
Tax-Free Income  California Tax-Free Income Fund 
  High Yield Municipal Bond Fund 
  Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund 
  New York Tax-Free Income Fund 
  Tax-Free Bond Fund 

 
Money Market  Money Market Fund 
  U.S. Government Cash Reserve 

For more complete information on any John Hancock Fund and a prospectus, which includes charges and expenses, call your financial professional, or John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

31


ELECTRONIC
DELIVERY

Now available from
John Hancock Funds

Instead of sending annual and semiannual reports and prospectuses through the U.S. mail, we’ll notify you by e-mail when these documents are available for online viewing.

How does electronic delivery benefit you? 
 
   * No more waiting for the mail to arrive; you’ll receive an 
    e-mail notification as soon as the document is ready for 
    online viewing. 
 
   * Reduces the amount of paper mail you receive from 
    John Hancock Funds. 
 
   * Reduces costs associated with printing and mailing. 

Sign up for electronic delivery today at
www.jhfunds.com/edelivery

32


For more information

The Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures and records are available without charge, upon request:

By phone  On the Fund’s Web site  On the SEC’s Web site 
1-800-225-5291  www.jhfunds.com/proxy  www.sec.gov 

 
 
Investment adviser  Transfer agent and  Independent registered 
John Hancock Advisers, LLC  dividend disburser  public accounting firm 
601 Congress Street  Mellon Investor Services  Deloitte & Touche LLP 
Boston, MA 02210-2805  Newport Office Center VII  200 Berkeley Street 
  480 Washington Boulevard  Boston, MA 02116-5022 
Custodian     
  Jersey City, NJ 07310   
The Bank of New York    Stock symbol 
One Wall Street  Legal counsel  Listed New York Stock 
New York, NY 10286  Wilmer Cutler Pickering  Exchange: 
  Hale and Dorr LLP  BTO 
  60 State Street   
  Boston, MA 02109-1803  For shareholder assistance 
    refer to page 23 

How to contact us   

 
Internet  www.jhfunds.com   

 
Mail  Regular mail:   
  Mellon Investor Services   
  85 Challenger Road   
  Overpeck Centre   
  Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660   

 
Phone  Customer service representatives  1-800-852-0218 
  Portfolio commentary  1-800-344-7054 
  24-hour automated information  1-800-843-0090 
  TDD line  1-800-231-5469 

A listing of month-end portfolio holdings is available on our Web site, www.jhfunds.com. A more detailed portfolio holdings summary is available on a quarterly basis 60 days after the fiscal quarter on our Web site or upon request by calling 1-800-225-5291, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site, www.sec.gov.

33



1-800-852-0218
1-800-843-0090 EASI-Line
1-800-231-5469 (TDD)

www.
jhfunds. com

P900A 10/05
           12/05


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

As of the end of the period, October 31, 2005, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (respectively, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer, the “Senior Financial Officers”). A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

The code of ethics was amended effective February 1, 2005 to address new Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and to make other related changes.

The most significant amendments were:

(a) Broadening of the General Principles of the code to cover compliance with all federal securities laws.

(b) Eliminating the interim requirements (since the first quarter of 2004) for access persons to preclear their personal trades of John Hancock mutual funds. This was replaced by post-trade reporting and a 30 day hold requirement for all employees.

(c) A new requirement for “heightened preclearance” with investment supervisors by any access person trading in a personal position worth $100,000 or more.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Charles L. Ladner is the audit committee financial expert and is “independent”, pursuant to general instructions on Form N-CSR Item 3.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

(a) Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant(s) in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements amounted to $36,950 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and $38,000 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee.

(b) Audit-Related Services

There were no audit-related fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 billed to the registrant or to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant ("control affiliates").

(c) Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“tax fees”) amounted to $2,250 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and $2,400 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005. The nature of the services comprising the tax fees was the review of the registrant’s income tax returns and tax distribution requirements. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee. There were no tax fees billed to the control affiliates.

(d) All Other Fees


There were no other fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 and fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 billed to the registrant or to the control affiliates.

(e)(1) See attachment "Approval of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and Other Services", with the audit committee pre-approval policies and procedures.

(e)(2) There were no fees that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to the de minimis exception for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004 and October 31, 2005 on behalf of the registrant or on behalf of the control affiliates that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.

(f) According to the registrant’s principal accountant, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the percentage of hours spent on the audit of the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons who were not full-time, permanent employees of principal accountant was less than 50%.

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant(s) for services rendered to the registrant and rendered to the registrant's control affiliates for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were $2,250 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, and $69,600 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

(h) The audit committee of the registrant has considered the non-audit services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant(s) to the control affiliates and has determined that the services that were not pre-approved are compatible with maintaining the principal accountant(s)' independence.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee comprised of independent trustees. The members of the audit committee are as follows:

Charles L. Ladner - Chairman
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.
Dr. John A. Moore
Patti McGill Peterson


ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.


Not applicable.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

See attached Exhibit “Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures”.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.


Not Applicable.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

(a) The registrant has adopted procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's Board of Trustees. A copy of the procedures is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. See attached "John Hancock Funds - Administration Committee Charter".

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

(a)(1) Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is attached.

(a)(2) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.

(b)(1) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached. The certifications furnished pursuant to this paragraph are not deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certifications are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.

(c)(1) Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are attached.

(c)(2) Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders is attached. See attached "John Hancock Funds - Administration Committee Charter".

(c)(3) Approval of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and Other Services is attached.

(c)(4) Contact person at the registrant.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: December 21, 2005

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: December 21, 2005

By: /s/ John G. Vrysen
-------------------------------------
John G. Vrysen

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: December 21, 2005