<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000746262 <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK PROPERTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 1,081,361 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,081,361 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,081,361 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 36,272 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,045,089 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,081,361 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 69,734 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 89,075 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,928 <INCOME-PRETAX> (23,269) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (23,269) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (23,269) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.05) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.05)