<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000795196
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                       9,158,222
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   87,933
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             9,246,155
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,329,926
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          575,869
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                  17,754,057
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                18,329,926
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,280,818
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  340,033
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,940,785
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,940,785
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,940,785
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    18.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    18.47