Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                              File No. 333-47815
                                                              File No. 333-74421


PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated May 6, 1998)



                                2,869,052 Shares
                              HRPT Properties Trust
                      Common Shares of Beneficial Interest



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         Our Common Shares are traded on the New York Stock  Exchange  under the
symbol "HRP". The last reported sale price of our Common Shares on that exchange
on March 15, 1999 was $14.00 per share.

         Selling shareholders  identified in this prospectus are offering all of
the shares to be sold in the  offering.  We will not receive any of the proceeds
from the offering.

         This  supplement  reflects a 256,246 share increase in the total number
of  shares  being  offered  by the  selling  shareholders.  Government  Property
Investors,  Inc. owns and is offering all of the additional shares. It is one of
the selling shareholders named in the prospectus.


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         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus  supplement or the  accompanying  prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


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            The date of this prospectus supplement is March 15, 1999.