INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the use in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (Registration No. 333-99685)
of our report dated November 7, 2002, relating to the financial statements of
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II as of November 5, 2002 and for the period
then ended in the Statement of Additional Information which is part of such
registration statement.

We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the headings "Independent
Auditors" and "Financial Statements" in the Registration Statement.


/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
------------------------
Boston, Massachusetts
November 22, 2002