BOSTON , March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Five John Hancock closed-end funds declared their monthly dividends today as follows:

    Declaration Date:  March 3, 2008
    Ex Date:           March 10, 2008
    Record Date:       March 12, 2008
    Payable Date:      March 31, 2008


                                                    Annualized   Rate Change
                                                     Yield at       from
    Ticker    Fund Name                      Amount   Market*   Previous Month
    PDT    Patriot Premium Dividend Fund II $0.0480    5.94%          -
    HPI    Preferred Income Fund            $0.1550    8.95%          -
    HPF    Preferred Income Fund II         $0.1550    9.08%          -
    HPS    Preferred Income Fund III        $0.1320    8.11%          -
    HTD    Tax-Advantaged Dividend          $0.1250    8.92%          -
            Income Fund

About Manulife Financial and John Hancock

John Hancock Funds, the mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial Services, offers a broad array of investment products, including open-end and closed-end funds, privately managed accounts, 529 plans and retirement accounts to retail and institutional investors. As of December 31, 2007 , investors entrusted John Hancock Funds with approximately $56.8 billion in assets. Additional information about John Hancock Funds can be found on the website: http://www.jhfunds.com.

John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States , the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$396 billion (US$401 billion) as of December 31, 2007 . Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at http://www.manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States . John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance.

*Based on February 29, 2008 closing market price

SOURCE John Hancock Funds