Abstract: A hydraulic drive system for hydraulic working machines has a variable displacement hydraulic pump, at least one actuator driven by the hydraulic fluid, a directional control valve of center bypass type for controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid, a center bypass line for connecting the center bypass passage of the control valve to a reservoir and a fixed restrictor disposed in the center bypass line. A first control signal that determines a first target displacement of the hydraulic pump is determined by using the pressure generated by the fixed restrictor. A second control signal is generated for determining a second target displacement of a hydraulic pump. A third control signal, which is the larger one of the first and second control signals, provides a target displacement that is applied to a pump regulator that controls the displacement of the hydraulic pump.