Inside the bowels of a Hong Kong industrial building, Eric Pun was among two dozen people crammed into a classroom learning to drill holes -- acquiring a new set of skills before heading abroad. Savvy businesses have started offering crash courses in subjects like home repair and hairdressing, capitalising on a wave of people departing Hong Kong as China cracks down on dissent and strict pandemic rules upend the economy. "I've heard a lot on various Facebook groups saying that it might take two weeks to find someone to fix a tap or an electrical appliance, and it costs quite a lot," says Pun, who is emigrating to Australia with his family. "It would be better if I could handle some of the easy tasks." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES