Provided is a hydraulic driving apparatus for a working machine, preventing an excessive decrease in pressure on a meter-in side and moving a load at a stable speed in a lowering direction. The apparatus comprises: a hydraulic pump; a hydraulic actuator; a manipulation device; a working hydraulic circuit including a meter-in flow passage and a meter-out flow passage; a control valve for changing a state of supply of hydraulic fluid to drive the hydraulic actuator at a speed designated by the manipulation device; a meter-in flow adjuster and a meter-out flow adjuster adapted to adjust a meter-in flow rate and meter-in flow rate respectively to respective value corresponding to the speed designated by the manipulation device; and a relief valve. The meter-in and meter-out flow adjusters have respective flow adjustment characteristics such that the meter-in flow rate is greater than the meter-out flow rate.