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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228616-08-000112.txt : 20081224
<SEC-HEADER>0001228616-08-000112.hdr.sgml : 20081224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081224093650
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228616-08-000112
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Martin Stanley
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001445135

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-08568
		FILM NUMBER:		081269064

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		772-231-0230

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001445135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Martin Stanley</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JOHN HANCOCK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>601 CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Trustee of the Fund</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>shares of beneficial interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-12-26</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alfred P. Ouellette, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>martin.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA
<TEXT>
<!--$$/page=-->

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



Know all by these presents, which the undersigned hereby constitutes and

appoints Alfred P. Ouellette, David Barr, Betsy Ann Seel, George M. Boyd and

Thomas M. Kinzler, signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful

attorneys-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 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 attorneys-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 10th day of September, 2008.



                                                              /s/ Stanley Martin

                                                              ------------------

                                                                  Stanley Martin



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
