BOSTON, April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Three John Hancock closed-end preferred funds (each a "Fund") declared their monthly distributions today as follows: Declaration Date: April 1, 2009 Ex Date: April 9, 2009 Record Date: April 13, 2009 Payment Date: April 30, 2009 Annualized Current Rate Change Distribution from Previous Ticker Fund name Amount Rate at Market* Month -------------------------------------------------------------------------- HPI Preferred Income Fund $0.1240 14.08% - HPF Preferred Income Fund II $0.1240 13.89% - HPS Preferred Income Fund III $0.1122 15.21% - *Based on March 31, 2009 closing market price About John Hancock Funds The Boston-based mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial, John Hancock Funds manages more than $38.8 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, retirement plans and related party assets for individual and institutional investors at December 31, 2008. About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation (the Company), a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as 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$405 billion (US$330 billion) at December 31, 2008. 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, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at http://www.johnhancock.com/. DATASOURCE: John Hancock Funds CONTACT: Media: Jay Aronowitz, +1-617-663-2702, or Investors: 800-843-0090 Web Site: http://www.manulife.com/ http://www.johnhancock.com/

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