N-CSRS 1 a_patprefdivtrust.htm JOHN HANCOCK PATRIOT PREFERRED DIVIDEND FUND a_patprefdivtrust.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811- 7590

John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Alfred P. Ouellette
Senior Attorney and Assistant Secretary

601 Congress Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4324

Date of fiscal year end:  May 31 
 
Date of reporting period:  November 30, 2006 

 

ITEM 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS.



TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Your fund at a glance 
page 1 
Managers’ report 
page 2 
Fund’s investments 
page 6 
Financial statements 
page 9 
Notes to financial 
statements 
page 1 4 
For more information 
page 2 4 

CEO corner

To Our Shareholders,

The future has arrived at John Hancock Funds.

We have always been firm believers in the powerful role the Internet can play in providing fund information to our shareholders and prospective investors. Recently, we launched a redesigned, completely overhauled Web site that is more visually pleasing, easier to navigate and, most importantly, provides more fund information and learning tools without overwhelming the user.

Not long after we embarked on this major project, a study was released by the Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industry’s main trade group, which found that an overwhelming majority of shareholders consider the Internet the “wave of the future” for accessing fund information.

Our new site sports fresher and faster ways to access account information. New innovations allow investors to view funds by risk level, track the performance of the John Hancock funds of their choice or sort funds by Morningstar, Inc.’s star ratings. Investors who own a John Hancock fund through a qualified retirement plan and don’t pay sales charges when making a purchase have the option of sorting by a “Load Waived” Morningstar Rating, thereby creating an apples-to-apples comparison with no-load funds that may also be available in their retirement plan.

The new site also has more educational tools and interactive modules to educate and assist investors with their financial goals, from college savings to retirement planning. A new “I want to…” feature allows investors to check performance, invest more money, update personal information or download prospectuses and forms quickly and easily.

In another of our ongoing efforts to provide our shareholders with top-notch service, we also redesigned our shareholder reports, as you may have noticed with this report. We hope the larger size, more colorful cover and redesigned presentation of the commentary and data tables will draw you in and make them easier to read.

After you’ve read your shareholder report, we encourage you to visit our new Web site — www.jhfunds.com — and take a tour. It’s easy, fast and fun and allows you to be in control of what you see and do. In short, it’s the wave of the future!

Sincerely,


Keith F. Hartstein,
President and Chief Executive Officer

This commentary reflects the CEO’s views as of November 30, 2006. They are subject to change at any time.

Your fund at a glance

The Fund seeks to provide high current income, consistent with preservation of capital, by normally investing at least 80% of its assets in dividend-paying securities.

Over the last six months

► Preferred stocks and utility common stocks posted strong gains, fueled by waning inflation fears and the cessation of interest rate hikes.

► The Fund performed in line with its peers on a net asset value basis.

► Utility common stock holdings performed best.




Top 10 issuers       
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.  5.0%  HSBC USA, Inc.  4.1% 
Citigroup, Inc.  4.6%  Devon Energy Corp.                 4.1% 
Bear Stearns Cos. Inc.  4.5%  Apache Corp.  3.9% 
MetLife, Inc.  4.3%  Alabama Power Co.  3.9% 
Southern California Edison Co.                          4.2%  SLM Corp.  3.5% 

As a percentage of net assets plus the value of preferred shares on November 30, 2006.

1

Managers’ report

John Hancock

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

Preferred stocks and utility common stocks — the two primary areas of emphasis for John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund — posted solid gains for the six-month period ended November 30, 2006. In the early months of the period, fixed income investments — including preferred stocks — performed poorly, hurt by news of strong economic growth and mounting inflation pressures, which in turn fueled concerns about more interest rate hikes. Because preferreds make fixed income payments in the form of dividends, their prices tend to move higher and lower in response to expectations for interest rates and inflation. Preferreds also were forced to contend with a glut of new issuance, which typically came to market with higher yields than already-outstanding securities, making older issues less attractive and putting pressure on their prices.

But beginning in August, preferreds and utility commons began to rally strongly, bolstered by renewed optimism that the Federal Reserve Board would hold interest rates steady. A series of reports indicating that the housing market and other parts of the economy were slowing provided investors evidence that inflation wasn’t the same concern it had been just a few months earlier. The rally gathered even more steam when the Fed held interest rates steady at each of its final three Open Market Committee meetings of the period in August, September and October. Against that backdrop, preferred stocks that offered a certain

SCORECARD

INVESTMENT    PERIOD’S PERFORMANCE. . . AND WHAT’S BEHIND THE NUMBERS 
Alliant Energy  ▲  Renewed focus on core regulated business drives earnings and 
    dividends higher 
Bank of America  ▲  Preferreds are coveted amid scarcity for high-quality, tax-advantaged 
    securities 
Ocean Spray  ▼ Lack of liquidity causes stock to languish 

2


Portfolio Managers, MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC
Gregory K. Phelps and Mark T. Maloney

tax advantage known as the dividends received deduction (DRD) outpaced those without the tax benefit. Utility common stocks also were helped by a mini wave of merger and acquisition activity, as well as by growing investor interest in defensive industries that tend to perform well amid slowing economic conditions. Even a decline in energy prices in the final two months of the period didn’t really hurt utility common stocks, which had been viewed by many investors as hidden energy plays.

“Preferred stocks and utility
  common stocks…posted solid
  gains for the six-month period
  ended November 30, 2006.”

Performance

For the six months ended November 30, 2006, John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund returned 11.28% at net asset value (NAV) and 17.23% at market value. The difference in the Fund’s NAV performance and its market performance stems from the fact that the market share price is subject to the dynamics of secondary market trading, which could cause it to trade at a discount or premium to the Fund’s NAV share price at any time. The Fund’s yield at closing market price on November 30, 2006 was 6.38%. By comparison, the average closed-end mid-cap value fund returned 12.34% at net asset value, according to Morningstar, Inc. For the same six-month period, the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index gained 5.93%, the Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock, DRD Eligible Index rose 8.51% and the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Utilities Index returned 16.91%.

Common stock leaders

Our utility common stock holdings provided the biggest boost to the Fund’s performance. Among the most significant contributors was KeySpan Corp., which operates regulated gas utilities throughout the northeastern United States. It was buoyed by news that it would be acquired by British network

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

3

operator National Grid. Another big winner was Alliant Energy Corp., pushed higher by renewed investor interest after the company decided to resume growing its dividend, to rid itself of money-losing foreign investments and to renew its focus on core regulated utility businesses. NiSource, Inc. also performed well, thanks in large part to investors’ upward revaluation of natural gas pipeline and storage assets. Peoples Energy Corp. also helped boost returns, soaring on news that the company — which sells and transports natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Chicago area — will be taken over by Wisconsin-based WPS Resources. Our holdings in telecommunications giant AT&T, Inc. also fared well due to growing recognition that the company’s stock provided attractive dividend yields, that its merger was working and that it was gaining market share in the broadband and wireless segments.

Preferred standouts

Among our preferred holdings, we enjoyed good gains from MetLife, Inc. It served us well, aided by strong demand for DRD-eligible preferreds. Bank of America Corp.’s preferred holdings, which we purchased recently, also did well, helped by investor demand for attractively priced tax-advantaged preferred stocks issued by high-quality companies amid a dearth of such securities. Likewise, our stake in PPL Electric Utilities Corp., a Pennsylvania-based electric provider, worked in our favor as the securities were in strong demand amid a scarcity of other investment-grade, tax-advantaged utility preferred stocks.

INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTION1 
Electric utilities  22% 
Multi-utilities  14% 
Oil & gas exploration   
& production  13% 
Investment banking   
& brokerage  12% 
Consumer finance  8% 
Other diversified financial   
services  7% 
Gas utilities  5% 
Life & health insurance  4% 
Agricultural products  3% 
Trucking  3% 
Diversified chemicals  2% 
All others  4% 

Another group of preferred stocks that performed particularly well were our brokerage holdings, led by Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. The brokers benefited from their ability to fire on all cylinders in their key businesses, including stocks, mergers and acquisitions, asset management and private equity. They also benefited from providing services to the thriving hedge fund industry, as well as gains from trading with their own money.

Laggards

In contrast, we lost ground with our stake in Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 650 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

4

of Canada, as well as more than 100 Florida grapefruit growers. Our holdings were part of a private placement, whereby the company sold securities to a relatively small number of institutional investors rather than to the public at large. Despite the preferred stocks’ sought-after tax-advantaged status, their prices languished as investors increasingly went for more liquid (meaning easily traded) securities. We continue to hold onto our Ocean Spray stake because we believe that this high-quality company has the potential to be taken over by a larger multinational food company at an attractive premium to the price we paid for it.

“Our utility common stock
  holdings provided the biggest
  boost to the Fund’s performance.”

Outlook

At the end of the period, the bond market was pricing in at least two rate cuts by mid-2007. While we agree with the notion that the Fed’s next move will be to lower rates, rather than raise them further, we believe that such action will come later than the market currently anticipates. For that reason, we believe the Treasury market could be due for a sell off amid any signs of economic strength, which likely would weigh on preferred and utility common stocks as well over the short term. Over the longer term, however, we remain quite optimistic that gradually slowing economic conditions will bode well for fixed income investments, including preferred and utility common stocks. We also believe that long-term demand — driven by the baby boom generation’s increasing need for income-producing investments — will continue to provide support for preferred and utility stocks.


This commentary reflects the views of the portfolio managers through the end of the Fund’s period discussed in this report. The managers’ statements reflect their own opinions. As such, they are in no way guarantees of future events, and are not intended to be used as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific security. They are also subject to change at any time as market and other conditions warrant.

The Fund normally will invest at least 25% of its managed assets in securities of companies in the utilities industry. Such an investment concentration makes the Fund more susceptible to factors adversely affecting the utilities industry than a more broadly diversified fund. Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole.

1 As a percentage of the Fund’s portfolio on November 30, 2006.

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

5

Fund’s investments

F I N A N C I A L  S T A T E M E N T S

Securities owned by the Fund on 11-30-06 (unaudited)

This schedule is divided into three main categories: common stocks, preferred stocks
and short-term investments. Stocks are further broken down by industry group. Short-term
investments, which represent the Fund’s cash position, are listed last.

Issuer    Shares  Value 
Common stocks 18.31%      $19,113,136 
(Cost $14,841,932)       
Electric Utilities 0.01%      11,625 
Progress Energy, Inc., (Contingent Value Obligation) (B)(I)    37,500  11,625 
Gas Utilities 1.16%      1,214,920 
Peoples Energy Corp.    28,000  1,214,920 
Integrated Telecommunication Services 0.73%      764,670 
AT&T, Inc.    22,550  764,670 
Multi-Utilities 16.41%      17,121,921 
Alliant Energy Corp.    52,000  2,022,800 
Dominion Resources, Inc.    27,500  2,220,350 
DTE Energy Co.    30,000  1,412,700 
KeySpan Corp.    91,550  3,756,297 
NiSource, Inc.    46,400  1,144,224 
NSTAR    100,000  3,518,000 
SCANA Corp.    15,500  639,530 
TECO Energy, Inc.    62,000  1,053,380 
Xcel Energy, Inc.    59,000  1,354,640 
 
  Credit     
Issuer, description  rating (A)  Shares  Value 
Preferred stocks 129.39%      $135,030,204 
(Cost $132,961,350)       
Agricultural Products 4.77%      4,974,378 
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.25%, Ser A (S)  BB+  60,000  4,974,378 
Consumer Finance 12.38%      12,918,736 
HSBC Finance Corp., 6.36%, Depositary Shares, Ser B  A  35,600  923,820 
HSBC USA, Inc., $2.8575 (G)  A1  131,700  6,494,456 
SLM Corp., 6.97%, Ser A  BBB+  101,000  5,500,460 
Diversified Banks 0.94%      979,600 
Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, 5.75%, Ser L       
(United Kingdom)  A  40,000  979,600 
Diversified Chemicals 2.81%      2,932,350 
Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., $4.50, Ser B  BBB+  33,900  2,932,350 

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

6

F I N A N C I A L  S T A T E M E N T S

  Credit     
Issuer, description  rating (A)  Shares Value 
Electric Utilities 33.10%      $34,540,151 
Alabama Power Co., 5.20%  BBB+  251,400  6,053,712 
Boston Edison Co., 4.78%  A–  19,380  1,787,805 
Duquesne Light Co., 6.50%  BB+  100,000  5,050,000 
Entergy Arkansas, Inc., 6.45%  BB+  100,000  2,571,880 
Entergy Mississippi, Inc., 6.25%  BB+  140,000  3,460,632 
Interstate Power & Light Co., 7.10%, Ser C  BBB–  32,000  838,400 
PPL Electric Utilities Corp., 6.25%, Depositary Shares  BBB  200,000  5,306,260 
PPL Energy Supply, LLC, 7.00%  BBB  50,000  1,324,500 
Southern California Edison Co., 6.00%, Ser C  BBB–  14,000  1,431,063 
Southern California Edison Co., 6.125%  BBB–  50,000  5,145,315 
Union Electric Co., $3.70  BB+  12,262  936,894 
Wisconsin Public Service Corp., 6.76%  A–  6,095  633,690 
Gas Utilities 6.83%      7,131,487 
Southern Union Co., 7.55%, Depositary Shares, Ser A  BB  201,400  5,216,260 
Southwest Gas Capital II, 7.70%  BB  72,300  1,915,227 
Investment Banking & Brokerage 17.97%      18,754,605 
Bear Stearns Cos., Inc. (The), 5.72%, Depositary Shares, Ser F  BBB+  40,000  1,992,000 
Bear Stearns Cos., Inc. (The), 6.15%, Depositary Shares, Ser E  BBB+  100,600  5,095,390 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 6.20%, Ser B  A  47,800  1,242,800 
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., 5.67%, Depositary Shares, Ser D  A–  48,000  2,496,000 
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., 5.94%, Depositary Shares, Ser C  A–  102,500  5,201,875 
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 6.375%, Depositary Shares, Ser 3  A  105,150  2,726,540 
Life & Health Insurance 6.50%      6,780,800 
MetLife, Inc., 6.50%, Ser B  BBB  260,000  6,780,800 
Multi-Utilities 4.76%      4,969,932 
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 6.99%, Ser 1995  Ba1  20,000  2,101,250 
PSEG Funding Trust II, 8.75%  BB+  30,000  795,900 
Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 6.92%  BB+  19,000  2,072,782 
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 20.22%      21,107,174 
Anadarko Petroleum Corp., 5.46%, Depositary Shares, Ser B  BB  34,567  3,301,148 
Apache Corp., 5.68%, Depositary Shares, Ser B  BBB  62,200  6,188,900 
Devon Energy Corp., 6.49%, Ser A  BB+  63,500  6,490,894 
Nexen, Inc., 7.35% (Canada)  BB+  200,400  5,126,232 
Other Diversified Financial Services 10.47%      10,924,425 
Bank of America Corp., 6.204%, Despositary Shares, Ser D  A  140,000  3,684,800 
Citigroup, Inc., 6.213%, Depositary Shares, Ser G  A  52,000  2,649,400 
Citigroup, Inc., 6.231%, Depositary Shares, Ser H  A  88,700  4,590,225 
Specialized Finance 1.50%      1,563,000 
CIT Group, Inc., 6.35%, Ser A  BBB+  60,000  1,563,000 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.85%      1,931,566 
Sovereign Bancorp, Inc., 7.30%, Depositary Shares, Ser C  BB+  70,000  1,931,566 

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

7

F I N A N C I A L  S T A T E M E N T S

  Credit     
Issuer, description  rating (A)  Shares  Value 
Trucking 4.33%      $4,518,000 
AMERCO, 8.50%, Ser A  B  180,000  4,518,000 
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.96%      1,004,000 
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.625%  BBB  40,000  1,004,000 

   Interest  Par value   
Issuer, description, maturity date  rate  (000)  Value 
Short-term investments 2.45%      $2,562,000 
(Cost $2,562,000)       
Commercial Paper 2.45%      2,562,000 
Chevron Funding Corp. 12/01/06  5.170%  $2,562  2,562,000 
Total investments (Cost $150,365,282) 150.15%      $156,705,340 
 
Other assets and liabilities, net 0.25%      $259,977 
 
Fund preferred shares, at value (50.40%)      ($52,600,406) 
 
Total net assets 100.00%      $104,364,911 

(A) Credit ratings are unaudited and are rated by Moody’s Investors Service where Standard & Poor’s ratings are not available unless indicated otherwise.

(B) This security is fair valued in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. These securities amounted to $11,625 or 0.01% of the Fund’s net assets as of November 30, 2006.

(G) Security rated internally by John Hancock Advisers, LLC.

(I) Non-income-producing security.

(S) This security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such security may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration. Rule 144A securities amounted to $4,974,378 or 4.77% of the Fund’s net assets as of November 30, 2006.

Parenthetical disclosure of a foreign country in the security description represents country of a foreign issuer.

The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

8

Financial statements

F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Statement of assets and liabilities 11-30-06 (unaudited)

This Statement of Assets and Liabilities is the Fund’s balance sheet. It shows the value
of what the Fund owns, is due and owes. You’ll also find the net asset value for each
common share.

Assets   
Investments at value (cost $150,365,282)  $156,705,340 
Cash  290 
Dividends receivable  460,808 
Other assets  20,752 
Total assets  157,187,190 
Liabilities   
Payable to affiliates   
Management fees  102,690 
Other  21,051 
Other payables and accrued expenses  98,132 
Total liabilities  221,873 
Auction Rate Preferred Shares (ARPS), and accrued dividends,   
unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized   
with no par value, 525 shares issued, liquidation preference   
of $100,000 per share  52,600,406 
Net assets   
Common shares capital paid-in  98,767,513 
Accumulated net realized loss on investments  (2,925,802) 
Net unrealized depreciation of investments  6,340,058 
Accumulated net investment income  2,183,142 
Net assets applicable to common shares  $104,364,911 
Net asset value per common share   
Based on 7,257,200 shares of beneficial interest   
outstanding — unlimited number of shares   
authorized with no par value  $14.38 

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

9

F I N A N C I A L  S T A T E M E N T S

Statement of operations For the period ended 11-30-06. (unaudited)1

This Statement of Operations summarizes the Fund’s investment income earned
and expenses incurred in operating the Fund. It also shows net gains (losses) for the period stated.

Investment income   
Dividends  $4,676,333 
Interest  101,870 
Total investment income  4,778,203 
Expenses   
Investment management fees (Note 2)  612,979 
Administration fees (Note 2)  114,934 
Compliance fees  1,195 
ARPS auction fees  69,546 
Transfer agent fees  21,568 
Printing  18,241 
Custodian fees  17,506 
Professional fees  14,381 
Registration and filing fees  11,631 
Trustees’ fees  3,768 
Interest  26 
Miscellaneous  12,201 
Total expenses  897,976 
Net investment income  3,880,227 
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)   
Net realized gain on investments  146,499 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments  7,624,525 
Net realized and unrealized gain  7,771,024 
Distributions to ARPS  (1,091,503) 
Increase in net assets from operations  $10,559,748 

1 Semiannual period from 6-1-06 through 11-30-06.

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

10

F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Statement of changes in net assets

These Statements of Changes in Net Assets show how the value of the Fund’s net assets
has changed during the last two periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses,
any investment gains and losses, distributions, if any, paid to shareholders and the net of
Fund share transactions.

  Year  Period 
  ended  ended 
  5-31-06  11-30-061 
Increase (decrease) in net assets     
From operations     
Net investment income  $7,631,668  $3,880,227 
Net realized gain  1,573,440  146,499 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)  (8,814,605)  7,624,525 
Distributions to ARPS  (1,740,378)  (1,091,503) 
Increase (decrease) in net assets     
resulting from operations  (1,349,875)  10,559,748 
Distributions to common shareholders     
From net investment income  (6,270,221)  (3,135,110) 
Net assets     
Beginning of period  104,560,369  96,940,273 
End of period2  $96,940,273  $104,364,911 

1 Semiannual period from 6-1-06 through 11-30-06. Unaudited.
2 Includes accumulated net investment income of $2,529,528 and $2,183,142, respectively.

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

11

F I N A N C I A L  S T A T E M E N T S

Financial highlights

The Financial highlights show how the Fund’s net asset value for a share has changed
since the end of the previous period.

COMMON SHARES             
 
Period ended  5-31-021  5-31-031  5-31-041  5-31-051  5-31-06  11-30-062 
Per share operating performance             
Net asset value,             
beginning of period  $12.96  $12.39  $13.06  $12.97  $14.41  $13.36 
Net investment income3  1.18  1.08  1.02  1.13  1.05  0.53 
Net realized and unrealized             
gain (loss) on investments  (0.73)  0.56  0.08  1.32  (1.00)  1.07 
Distributions to ARPS  (0.16)  (0.11)  (0.08)  (0.15)  (0.24)  (0.15) 
Total from             
investment operations  0.29  1.53  1.02  2.30  (0.19)  1.45 
Less distributions to             
common shareholders             
From net investment income  (0.86)  (0.86)  (1.11)  (0.86)  (0.86)  (0.43) 
Net asset value, end of period  $12.39  $13.06  $12.97  $14.41  $13.36  $14.38 
Per share market value,             
end of period  $12.47  $13.07  $12.00  $13.58  $11.95  $13.55 
Total return at market value4 (%)  13.76  12.50  (0.24)  20.77  (6.11)  17.235 
Ratios and supplemental data             
Net assets applicable to common             
shares, end of period (in millions)  $90  $95  $94  $105  $97  $104 
Ratio of net expenses to average             
net assets6 (%)  1.96  2.11  1.88  1.81  1.90  1.967 
Ratio of net investment income to             
average net assets 8 (%)  9.09  9.21  7.60  8.19  7.52  8.467 
Portfolio turnover (%)  16  9  7  11  16  95 
Senior securities             
Total value of ARPS outstanding             
(in millions)  $53  $53  $53  $53  $53  $53 
Involuntary liquidation preference             
per unit (in thousands)  $100  $100  $100  $100  $100  $100 
Average market value per unit             
(in thousands)  $100  $100  $100  $100  $100  $100 
Asset coverage per unit 9  $270,318  $277,801   $276,094   $298,017   $283,075          $297,417  

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

12

F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Notes to Financial Highlights

1 Audited by previous auditor.

2 Semiannual period from 6-1-06 to 11-30-06. Unaudited.

3 Based on the average of the shares outstanding.

4 Assumes dividend reinvestment.

5 Not annualized.

6 Ratios calculated on the basis of expenses relative to the average net assets of common shares. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the ratio of expenses would have been 1.26%, 1.30%, 1.22%, 1.19%, 1.25% and 1.24%, respectively.

7 Annualized.

8 Ratios calculated on the basis of net investment income relative to the average net assets of common shares. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the ratio of net investment income would have been 5.84%, 5.70%, 4.94%, 5.38, 4.96% and 5.38%, respectively.

9 Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities from the Fund’s total assets and dividing such amount by the number of ARPS outstanding as of the applicable 1940 Act Evaluation Date, which may differ from the financial reporting date.

See notes to financial statements

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

13

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

Note 1
Accounting policies

John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Significant accounting policies of the Fund
are as follows:

Valuation of investments

Securities in the Fund’s portfolio are valued on the basis of market quotations, valuations provided by independent pricing services or if quotations are not readily available, or the value has been materially affected by events occurring after the closing of a foreign market, at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The Fund determines the net asset value of the common shares each business day.

Investment transactions

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the identified cost basis.

Expenses

The majority of expenses are directly identifiable to an individual fund. Expenses that are not readily identifiable to a specific fund are allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative sizes of the funds.

Federal income taxes

The Fund qualifies as a “regulated investment company” by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund has $2,890,287 of a capital loss carryforward available, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future net realized capital gains. To the extent that such carryforward is used by the Fund, no capital gain distributions will be made. The loss carryforward expires as follows: May 31, 2010 — $1,226,894, May 31, 2011 — $1,075,016, May 31, 2012 — $79,976, May 31, 2013 — $51,881 and May 31, 2014 — $456,520.

New accounting pronouncements

In June 2006, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Interpretation”) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. The Interpretation prescribes a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and requires certain expanded disclosures. Management is currently evaluating the application of the Interpretation to the Fund, and has not at this time quantified the impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of the Interpretation on the Fund’s financial statements.

In September 2006, FASB Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishing a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the application of

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

14

FAS 157 to the Fund, and its impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of FAS 157 on the Fund’s financial statements.

Dividends, interest and distributions

Dividend income on investment securities is recorded on the exdividend date or, in the case of some foreign securities, on the date thereafter when the Fund identifies the dividend. Interest income on investment securities is recorded on the accrual basis. Foreign income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable.

The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date. During the year ended May 31, 2006, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $8,010,599.

Such distributions, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the Fund’s financial statements as a return of capital.

Use of estimates

The preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, incorporates estimates made by management in determining the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Fund. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Note 2
Management fee and transactions with
affiliates and others

The Fund has an investment management contract with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”). Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a monthly management fee to the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.80% of the Fund’s average weekly net asset value and the value attributable to the Auction Rate Preferred Shares (collectively, “managed assets”).

Effective December 31, 2005, the investment management teams of the Adviser were reorganized into Sovereign Asset Management LLC (“Sovereign”), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“JHLICO”), a subsidiary of MFC. The Adviser remains the principle advisor on the Fund and Sovereign acts as subadviser under the supervision of the Adviser. The restructuring did not have an impact on the Fund, which continues to be managed using the same investment philosophy and process. The Fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.

Effective October 1, 2006, Sovereign changed its name to MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC.

The Fund has an administrative agreement with the Adviser under which the Adviser oversees the custodial, auditing, valuation, accounting, legal, stock transfer and dividend disbursing services, and maintains Fund communications with shareholders. The Fund pays the Adviser a monthly administration fee at an annual rate of 0.15% of the Fund’s average weekly managed assets. The compensation for the period amounted to $114,934. The Fund also reimbursed John Hancock Life Insurance Company for certain compliance costs, included in the Fund’s Statement of Operations.

Mr. James R. Boyle is Chairman of the Adviser, as well as affiliated Trustee of the Fund, and is compensated by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The compensation of unaffiliated Trustees is borne by the Fund. The unaffiliated Trustees may elect to defer, for tax purposes, their receipt of this compensation under the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan. The Fund makes investments into other John Hancock funds, as applicable, to cover its liability for the deferred compensation. Investments to cover the Fund’s deferred compensation liability are recorded on the Fund’s books as an other asset. The deferred compensation liability and the related other asset are always equal and are marked to market on a periodic basis to reflect any income earned by the investments, as well as any unrealized gains or losses. The Deferred

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

15

Compensation Plan investments had no impact on the operations of the Fund.

The Fund is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and has filed with the NYSE its chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. The Fund also files with the Securities and Exchange Commission the certification of its chief executive officer and chief accounting officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Note 3
Fund share transactions

Common shares

The Fund had no common share transactions during the last two fiscal periods.

Auction Rate Preferred Shares

The Fund issued 525 shares of Auction Rate Preferred Shares (“ARPS”) on July 29, 1993, in a public offering. The underwriting discount and the offering costs were recorded as a reduction of the capital of common shares.

Dividends on the ARPS, which accrue daily, are cumulative at a rate that was established at the offering of the ARPS and has been reset every 49 days thereafter by an auction. Dividend rates on ARPS ranged from 3.79% to 4.21% during the period ended November 30, 2006. Accrued dividends on ARPS are included in the value of ARPS on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The ARPS are redeemable at the option of the Fund, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends on any dividend payment date. The ARPS are subject to mandatory redemption at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if the Fund is in default on its asset coverage requirements with respect to the ARPS, as defined in the Fund’s bylaws. If the dividends on the ARPS shall remain unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends, the holders of the ARPS, as a class, have the right to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In general, the holders of the ARPS and the common shareholders have equal voting rights of one vote per share, except that the holders of the ARPS, as a class, vote to elect two members of the Board of Trustees, and separate class votes are required on certain matters that affect the respective interests of the ARPS and common shareholders.

Note 4
Investment transactions

Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the period ended November 30, 2006, aggregated $13,116,440 and $12,824,772, respectively.

The cost of investments owned on November 30, 2006, including short-term investments, for federal income tax purposes, was $150,530,023. Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $8,811,561 and $2,636,244, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $6,175,317. The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized depreciation of investments is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on certain sales of securities.

Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

16

Investment objective and policy

The Fund’s investment objective is to provide high current income consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund will pursue its objective by investing in preferred stocks that, in the opinion of the Adviser, may be undervalued relative to similar securities in the marketplace.

The Fund’s nonfundamental investment policy, with respect to the quality of ratings of its portfolio investments, was changed by a vote of the Fund’s Trustees on September 13, 1994. The policy, which became effective October 15, 1994, stipulates that preferred stocks and debt obligations in which the Fund will invest will be rated investment grade (at least “BBB” by S&P or “Baa” by Moody’s) at the time of investment or will be preferred stocks of issuers of investment grade senior debt, some of which may have speculative characteristics, or, if not rated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser. The Fund will invest in common stocks of issuers whose senior debt is rated investment grade or, in the case of issuers that have no rated senior debt outstanding, whose senior debt is considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.

On November 20, 2001, the Fund’s Trustees approved the following investment policy investment restric-tion change, effective December 15, 2001. Under normal circumstances the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in dividend-paying securities. The “Assets” are defined as net assets including the liquidation preference amount of the ARPS plus borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days prior to any change in this 80% investment policy.

Bylaws

In November 2002, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments to the Fund’s bylaws, including provisions relating to the calling of a special meeting and requiring advance notice of shareholder proposals or nominees for Trustee. The advance notice provisions in the bylaws require shareholders to notify the Fund in writing of any proposal that they intend to present at an annual meeting of shareholders, including any nominations for Trustee, between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the mailing date of the notice from the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. The notification must be in the form prescribed by the bylaws. The advance notice provisions provide the Fund and its Trustees with the opportunity to thoughtfully consider and address the matters proposed before the Fund prepares and mails its proxy statement to shareholders. Other amendments set forth the procedures that must be followed in order for a shareholder to call a special meeting of shareholders. Please contact the Secretary of the Fund for additional information about the advance notice requirements or the other amendments to the bylaws.

On December 16, 2003, the Trustees approved the following change to the Fund’s bylaws. The auction preferred section of the Fund’s bylaws was changed to update the rating agency requirements, in keeping with recent changes to the agencies’ basic maintenance reporting requirements for leveraged closed-end funds. Bylaws now require an independent accountant’s confirmation only once per year, at the Fund’s fiscal year end, and changes to the agencies’ basic maintenance reporting requirements that include modifications to the eligible assets and their respective discount factors. These revisions bring the Fund’s bylaws in line with current rating agency requirements.

On September 14, 2004, the Trustees approved an amendment to the Fund’s bylaws increasing the maximum applicable dividend rate ceiling on the preferred shares to conform with the modern calculation methodology used by the industry and other John Hancock funds.

17

Dividends and distributions

During the period ended November 30, 2006, dividends from net investment income totaling $0.432 per share were paid to shareholders. The dates of payments and the amounts per share are as follows:

                                                                                           INCOME 
PAYMENT DATE  DIVIDEND 
June 30, 2006  $0.072 
July 31, 2006  0.072 
August 31, 2006  0.072 
September 29, 2006  0.072 
October 31, 2006  0.072 
November 30, 2006  0.072 

Dividend reinvestment plan

The Fund offers its shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), which offers the opportunity to earn compounded yields. Each holder of common shares may elect to have all distributions of dividends and capital gains reinvested by Mellon Investor Services, as plan agent for the common shareholders (the “Plan Agent”). Holders of common shares who do not elect to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash, paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the common shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend disbursing agent.

Shareholders may join the Plan by filling out and mailing an authorization card, by notifying the Plan Agent by telephone or by visiting the Plan Agent’s Web site at www.melloninvestor.com. Shareholders must indicate an election to reinvest all or a portion of dividend payments. If received in proper form by the Plan Agent before the record date of a dividend, the election will be effective with respect to all dividends paid after such record date. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee to determine whether and how they may participate in the Plan.

If the Fund declares a dividend payable either in common shares or in cash, nonparticipants will receive cash, and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in common shares. If the market price of the common shares on the payment date of the dividend is equal to or exceeds their net asset value as determined on the payment date, participants will be issued common shares (out of authorized but unissued shares) at a value equal to the higher of net asset value or 95% of the market price. If the net asset value exceeds the market price of the common shares at such time, or if the Board of Trustees declares a dividend payable only in cash, the Plan Agent will, as agent for Plan participants, buy shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. Such purchases will be made promptly after the payable date for such dividend and, in any event, prior to the next ex-dividend date after such date, except where necessary to comply with federal securities laws. If, before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases, the market price exceeds the net asset value of the common shares, the average per share purchase price paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the net asset value of the common shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the dividend had been paid in shares issued by the Fund.

Each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. In each case, the cost per share of the shares purchased for each participant’s account will be the average cost, including brokerage commissions, of any shares purchased on the open market plus the cost of any shares issued by the Fund. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to common shares issued directly by the Fund. There are no other charges to participants for reinvesting dividends or capital gain distributions. Participants in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan at any time by contacting the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing or by visiting the Plan Agent’s Web site at www.melloninvestor.com. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if received not less than ten days prior to a dividend record date; otherwise, it will be effective for all subsequent dividend record dates. When a participant withdraws from the Plan or upon termination of the Plan, as provided below, certificates for

18

whole common shares credited to his or her account under the Plan will be issued, and a cash payment will be made for any fraction of a share credited to such account.

The Plan Agent maintains each shareholder’s account in the Plan and furnishes monthly written confirmations of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by the shareholders for personal and tax records. The Plan Agent will hold common shares in the account of each Plan participant in noncertificated form in the name of the participant. Proxy material relating to the shareholders’ meetings of the Fund will include those shares purchased as well as shares held pursuant to the Plan. The reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any federal income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such dividends or distributions. Participants under the Plan will receive tax information annually. The amount of dividend to be reported on 1099-DIV should be (1) in the case of shares issued by the Fund, the fair market value of such shares on the dividend payment date and (2) in the case of shares purchased by the Plan Agent in the open market, the amount of cash used by the Plan Agent to purchase shares in the open market, including the amount of cash allocated to brokerage commissions paid on such purchases.

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to all shareholders of the Fund at least 90 days before the record date for the dividend or distribution. The Plan may be amended or terminated by the Plan Agent after at least 90 days’ written notice to all shareholders of the Fund. All correspondence or additional information concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent, Mellon Bank, N.A., c/o Mellon Investor Services, P.O. Box 3338, South Hackensack, NJ 07606-1938 (Telephone: 1-800-852-0218).

Shareholder communication
and assistance

If you have any questions concerning the Fund, we will be pleased to assist you. If you hold shares in your own name and not with a brokerage firm, please address all notices, correspondence, questions or other communications regarding the Fund to the transfer agent at:

Mellon Investor Services
Newport Office Center VII
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Telephone: 1-800-852-0218

If your shares are held with a brokerage firm, you should contact that firm, bank or other nominee for assistance.

19

Board Consideration of and
Continuation of Investment Advisory
Agreement and Subadvisory
Agreement: John Hancock Patriot
Preferred Dividend Fund

The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) requires the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund (the “Fund”), including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), annually to review and consider the continuation of: (i) the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and (ii) the investment subadvisory agreement (the “Subadvisory Agreement”) with MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC (the “Subadviser”). The Advisory Agreement and the Subadvisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

At meetings held on May 1–2 and June 5–6, 2006,1 the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and Subadviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. During such meetings, the Board’s Contracts/ Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel.

In evaluating the Advisory Agreements, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose by the Independent Trustees, including: (i) the investment performance of the Fund and a peer group of comparable funds (the “Peer Group”) selected by Morningstar Inc. (“Morningstar”), an independent provider of investment company data, for a range of periods ended December 31, 2005,2 (ii) advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the Fund relative to a Peer Group, (iii) the Adviser’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund, (iv) breakpoints in the Fund’s and the Peer Group’s fees and information about economies of scale, (v) the Adviser’s and Subadviser’s record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions, and with the applicable Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of the Adviser’s and Subadviser’s compliance department, (vi) the background and experience of senior management and investment professionals, and (vii) the nature, cost and character of advisory and non-investment management services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates and by the Subadviser.

The Board’s review and conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information presented to the Board and not the result of any single controlling factor. It was based on performance and other information as of December 31, 2005; facts may have changed between that date and the date of this shareholders report. The key factors considered by the Board and the conclusions reached are described below.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board considered the ability of the Adviser and the Subadviser, based on their resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory, and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser and Subadviser. In addition, the Board took into account the administrative services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates.

Based on the above factors, together with those referenced below, the Board concluded that, within the context of its full deliberations, the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Subadviser were sufficient to support renewal of the Advisory Agreements.

Fund performance

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended December 31, 2005. The Board also considered these results in comparison to the performance of the Peer Group, as well as the

20

Fund’s benchmark index. Morningstar determined the Peer Group for the Fund. The Board reviewed with a representative of Morningstar the methodology used by Morningstar to select the funds in the Peer Group. The Board noted the imperfect comparability of the Peer Group and that Morningstar was not able to select a comparative Category for the Fund.

The Board noted that the Fund’s performance during the five-year period was lower than the performance of the median of the Peer Group, but was higher than the performance of its benchmark index, the Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock DRD Eligible Index. The Board also noted that Fund’s performance during the three-year period was appreciably higher than the performance of the Peer Group median, and its benchmark index. The Board noted that the Fund’s more recent performance during the one-year period was lower than, but generally competitive with, the performance of the benchmark index, and was higher than the performance of the Peer Group median. The Adviser discussed planned changes designed to improve the Fund’s performance. The Board indicated its intent to continue to monitor the Fund’s performance trends to assess whether other remedial changes are warranted.

Investment advisory fee and subadvisory
fee rates and expenses

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rate”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Advisory Agreement Rate with the advisory fees for the Peer Group. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement Rate was not appreciably higher than the median rate of the Peer Group.

The Board received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s various components, including advisory fees, and other non-advisory fees, including administrative fees, transfer agent fees, custodian fees, and other miscellaneous fees (e.g., fees for accounting and legal services). The Board considered comparisons of these expenses to the Peer Group median. The Board also received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (“Expense Ratio”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Expense Ratio of the Fund to that of the Peer Group median. The Board noted that the Fund’s Expense Ratio was higher than the Peer Group median.

The Adviser also discussed the Morningstar data and rankings, and other relevant information, for the Fund. Based on the above-referenced considerations and other factors, the Board concluded that the Fund’s plans for improving overall performance and lowering the Expense Ratio supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreements.

The Board also received information about the investment subadvisory fee rate (the “Subadvisory Agreement Rate”) payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser for investment subadvisory services. The Board concluded that the Subadvisory Agreement Rate was fair and equitable, based on its consideration of the factors described here.

Profitability

The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreements, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates, including the Subadviser. The Board concluded that, in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits reported by the Adviser were not unreasonable.

Economies of scale

The Board received and considered general information regarding economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, including the Fund’s ability to appropriately benefit from economies of scale under the Fund’s fee structure. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of the Adviser’s and Subadviser’s costs are not specific to individual Funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.

The Board observed that the Advisory Agreements did not offer breakpoints.

21

However, the Board considered the limited relevance of economies of scale in the context of a closed-end fund that, unlike an open-end fund, does not continuously offer its shares. The Board noted that the Fund, as a closed-end investment company, was not expected to increase materially in size and that its assets would grow (if at all) through the investment performance of the Fund. Therefore, the Board did not consider potential economies of scale as a principal factor in assessing the fees payable under the Advisory Agreements, but concluded that the fees were fair and equitable based on relevant factors.

Other benefits to the Adviser

The Board received information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).

The Board also considered the effectiveness of the Adviser’s, Subadviser’s and Fund’s policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including those relating to best execution of portfolio transactions and brokerage allocation.

Other factors and broader review

As discussed above, the Board reviewed detailed materials received from the Adviser and Subadviser as part of the annual re-approval process. The Board also regularly reviews and assesses the quality of the services that the Fund receives throughout the year.

In this regard, the Board reviews reports of the Adviser and Subadviser at least quarterly, which include, among other things, fund performance reports and compliance reports. In addition, the Board meets with portfolio managers and senior investment officers at various times throughout the year.

After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.

1 The Board previously considered information about the Subadvisory Agreement at the September and December 2005 Board meetings in connection with the Adviser’s reorganization.

2 Morningstar also provided a comparative analysis for most, but not all of the John Hancock Funds, of the investment performance and advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the John Hancock Funds relative to a broader category of relevant funds (the “Category”). Morningstar advised the Board that it was not able to select a comparative Category for the John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund. Therefore, Morningstar did not provide a broader Category analysis; instead, it provided only the narrower Peer Group analysis.

22

For more information

The Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures and records are available without charge, upon request:

By phone  On the Fund’s Web site  On the SEC’s Web site 
1-800-225-5291  www.jhfunds.com/proxy  www.sec.gov 
 
Trustees  Gordon M. Shone  Transfer agent for 
Ronald R. Dion, Chairman  Treasurer  common shareholders 
James R. Boyle†  John G. Vrysen  Mellon Investor Services 
James F. Carlin  Chief Financial Officer  Newport Office Center VII 
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.*    480 Washington Boulevard 
William H. Cunningham  Investment adviser  Jersey City, NJ 07310 
Charles L. Ladner*  John Hancock Advisers, LLC   
Dr. John A. Moore*  601 Congress Street  Transfer agent for 
Patti McGill Peterson*  Boston, MA 02210-2805  preferred shareholders 
Steven R. Pruchansky    Deutsche Bank Trust 
*Members of the Audit Committee  Subadviser  Company Americas 
†Non-Independent Trustee  MFC Global Investment  280 Park Avenue 
  Management (U.S.), LLC  New York, NY 10017 
Officers  101 Huntington Avenue   
Keith F. Hartstein  Boston, MA 02199  Legal counsel 
President and    Kirkpatrick & Lockhart 
Chief Executive Officer  Principal distributor  Preston Gates Ellis LLP 
  John Hancock Funds, LLC  1 Lincoln Street 
Thomas M. Kinzler  601 Congress Street  Boston, MA 02111-2950 
Secretary and  Boston, MA 02210-2805   
Chief Legal Officer    Stock symbol 
Francis V. Knox, Jr.  Custodian  Listed New York Stock 
Chief Compliance Officer  The Bank of New York  Exchange: 
  One Wall Street  PPF 
  New York, NY 10286  For shareholder assistance 
    refer to page 19 

How to contact us   
 
Internet  www.jhfunds.com   
 
Mail  Regular mail:   
  Mellon Investor Services   
  Newport Office Center VII   
  480 Washington Boulevard   
  Jersey City, NJ 07310   
 
Phone  Customer service representatives  1-800-852-0218 
  Portfolio commentary  1-800-344-7054 
  24-hour automated information  1-800-843-0090 
  TDD line  1-800-231-5469 

A listing of month-end portfolio holdings is available on our Web site, www.jhfunds.com. A more detailed portfolio holdings summary is available on a quarterly basis 60 days after the fiscal quarter on our Web site or upon request by calling 1-800-225-5291, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site, www.sec.gov.

24

J O H N  H A N C O C K  F A M I L Y  O F  F U N D S

EQUITY   INTERNATIONAL 
Balanced Fund  Greater China Opportunities Fund 
Classic Value Fund  International Classic Value Fund 
Classic Value Fund II  International Core Fund 
Core Equity Fund  International Fund 
Focused Equity Fund  International Growth Fund 
Growth Fund   
Growth Opportunities Fund  INCOME 
Growth Trends Fund  Bond Fund 
Intrinsic Value Fund  Government Income Fund 
Large Cap Equity Fund  High Yield Fund 
Large Cap Select Fund  Investment Grade Bond Fund 
Mid Cap Equity Fund  Strategic Income Fund 
Mid Cap Growth Fund   
Multi Cap Growth Fund  TAX-FREE INCOME 
Small Cap Equity Fund  California Tax-Free Income Fund 
Small Cap Fund  High Yield Municipal Bond Fund 
Small Cap Intrinsic Value Fund  Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund 
Sovereign Investors Fund  New York Tax-Free Income Fund 
U.S. Core Fund  Tax-Free Bond Fund 
U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund   
Value Opportunities Fund  MONEY MARKET 
  Money Market Fund 
ASSET ALLOCATION & LIFESTYLE  U.S. Government Cash Reserve 
Allocation Core Portfolio   
Allocation Growth + Value Portfolio  CLOSED-END 
Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio  Bank & Thrift Opportunity 
Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio  Financial Trends 
Lifestyle Conservative Portfolio  Income Securities 
Lifestyle Growth Portfolio  Investors Trust 
Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio  Patriot Global Dividend 
  Patriot Preferred Dividend 
SECTOR  Patriot Premium Dividend I 
Financial Industries Fund  Patriot Premium Dividend II 
Health Sciences Fund  Patriot Select Dividend 
Real Estate Fund  Preferred Income 
Regional Bank Fund  Preferred Income II 
Technology Fund  Preferred Income III 
Technology Leaders Fund  Tax-Advantaged Dividend 

For more complete information on any John Hancock Fund and an Open-End fund prospectus, which includes charges and expenses, call your financial professional, or John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 for Open-End fund information and 1-800-852-0218 for Closed-End fund information. Please read the Open-End fund prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.


PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MIS

1-800-852-0218
1-800-843-0090 EASI-Line
1-800-231-5469 (TDD)

www.jhfunds. com

P70SA 11/06
1/07

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

As of the end of the period, November 30, 2006, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (respectively, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer, the “Senior Financial Officers”). A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable at this time.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable at this time.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable at this time.

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-
END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There were no material changes to previously disclosed John Hancock Funds - Administration Committee Charter and John Hancock Funds – Governance Committee Charter.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-

year in the case of an annual report) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

(a)(1) Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is attached.

(a)(2) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.

(b) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached. The certifications furnished pursuant to this paragraph are not deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certifications are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.

(c)(1) Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders is attached. See attached “John Hancock Funds – Governance Committee Charter”.

(c)(2) Contact person at the registrant.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

John Hancock Patriot Preferred Dividend Fund

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: January 26, 2007

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: January 26, 2007

By: /s/ John G. Vrysen
-------------------------------------
John G. Vrysen
Chief Financial Officer

Date: January 26, 2007