-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O70tyDHnvR3rzulSdIkqh09Y8II9hSh8/O761GEK7yrvDLwoPkzK7Z3QRHoYE/Wc
 PqcjbLZu/X2LOYxKIYCwzQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228616-05-000210.txt : 20050721
<SEC-HEADER>0001228616-05-000210.hdr.sgml : 20050721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050721154411
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228616-05-000210
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050721
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050721

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANCOCK JOHN BANK & THRIFT OPPORTUNITY FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000925683
		IRS NUMBER:				043241844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173751700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN REGIONAL BANK & THRIFT FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940620

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hartstein Keith F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001333804

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-08568
		FILM NUMBER:		05966330

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-663-4314

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O 601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000925683</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANCOCK JOHN BANK &amp; THRIFT OPPORTUNITY FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BTO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001333804</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hartstein Keith F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 601 CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith F. Hartstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
