-----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,
 ENM4rLkcm6+aBWSi+mFjDVeHzwGDELplSXoOz+VEEb/cf5d+dS3kguvldzTRhopM
 +brkglJWt6kAtpDkPSYYAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228616-06-000037.txt : 20060817
<SEC-HEADER>0001228616-06-000037.hdr.sgml : 20060817
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060817163645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228616-06-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060713
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060817
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060817

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:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-663-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRUCHANSKY STEVEN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223427

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-08568
		FILM NUMBER:		061041189

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRUCHANSKY STEVEN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Trustee, the Fund</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>shares of beneficial interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.32</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alfred P. Ouellette, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>trusteepoa05.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA
<TEXT>
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know all by these presents, which the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints Alfred P. Ouellette and Brian E. Langenfeld, signing singly, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

     (1)  execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
          capacity as a trustee of registered investment companies advised by
          John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in
          accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
          and the rules thereunder;

     (2)  do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
          in regard to said registered investment companies which may be
          necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or
          5, complete and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and
          timely file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange
          Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority; and

     (3)  take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
          foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of
          benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the
          undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such
          attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power
          of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
          conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
          attorney-in-fact's discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grants to such attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming,
nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of this 22nd day of April, 2005.


/s/ Charles L. Ladner                                /s/ John A. Moore
- ---------------------------                          -------------------------
Charles L. Ladner                                    John A. Moore

/s/ James F. Carlin                                  /s/ Patti McGill Peterson
- ---------------------------                          -------------------------
James F. Carlin                                      Patti McGill Peterson

/s/ Richard P. Chapman, Jr.                          /s/ Steven R. Pruchansky
- ---------------------------                          -------------------------
Richard P. Chapman, Jr                               Steven R. Pruchansky

/s/ William H. Cunningham                            /s/ Norman H. Smith
- ---------------------------                          -------------------------
William H. Cunningham                                Norman H. Smith

/s/ Ronald R. Dion
- ---------------------------
Ronald R. Dion
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
