Why in the world were millions of Americans watching HK yesterday?

It wasn't the most subtle of hints.

Viewers of NBC's Today show yesterday tuned in to be greeted by the beaming face of Jackie Chan, as they tried to work out 'Where in the World is Matt Lauer?'

The popular star of the three-hour US breakfast show was, of course, in Hong Kong. Lauer co-hosted yesterday's show live from Tsim Sha Tsui as part of an annual stunt in which he presents a week of shows from a different location every day. Not even his studio-based co-host, Katie Couric, has any idea where he will turn up until the show starts.

If the face of Hong Kong's most famous export wasn't a big enough hint for the viewers, Chan was steering a Star Ferry at the time, with the Central skyline in the background.

Back on dry land in front of the Cultural Centre, the live programme bounced between Lauer - complete with dragon dancers and a purpose-built pagoda - and Couric in New York.

First in the interviewee's chair was the University of Hong Kong's dean of science, Frederick Leung Chi-ching, who was quizzed on Sars and bird flu.

Meanwhile, Claudine Robinson from Mississippi, Erica Lyons from New York, and fellow American women friends stood at the ready with homemade billboards. When Lauer came over they frantically waved to their folks back home.

'Our husbands all work here,' Ms Robinson said. 'They're babysitting at home while we chase Matt. We love Matt. Oh, and Katie, we love Katie too. But Matt's a lot thinner than I thought.'

Next up was kung fu actress Chris Yen - now starring in Protege De La Rose Noire - who performed a demonstration with her nunchucks in a Shanghai Tang outfit.

'I'm very excited about meeting Matt,' she said. 'I'm still in disbelief.'

Fung shui expert Raymond Lo Hang-lap also put in an appearance - a fish tank was set up for him - in which he rated the fung shui of NBC's New York studio (good, apparently).

NBC worked closely with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to pull off the show, which also included packaged segments of interviews with guests including entrepreneur David Tang Wing-cheung.

'The viewers love to see where Matt shows up,' NBC producer Maryann Zoellner said. 'He takes people to the far-flung places on Earth. All the shows start with a dramatic opening.

'In Hong Kong we show the traditional things that happen, plus the packaged pieces - what is Hong Kong, the buildings, The Peak and bird market.'

NBC's Asia correspondent Ned Colt also put together a piece on 'the other Hong Kong', showing the New Territories, mountain biking, kayaking and parasailing.

'For each destination, an NBC team heads out about three weeks in advance,' Ms Zoellner said. Lauer flew in yesterday at 2pm and was due to fly out at 10pm, to his next mystery location. Monday's show came from Botswana and Tuesday's from Zermatt in Switzerland.

'Where in the World is Matt Lauer?' has been an annual Today show event since 1998.

Rather than scrunching up in economy class, Lauer flies in a corporate jet so he can sleep on board.

He has clocked up more than 230,000km during his trips, appearing from 28 locations.